THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

82 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
host passion flower species.
Mortality/Longevity: Adult life span: 2–3
months.
Remarks: Passion flowers contain toxic
compounds to which caterpillars are immune;
like monarchs, the caterpillars concentrate the
toxin in their tissues and pass it along to the
adult during metamorphosis.
Research suggests that adult Heliconian
butterflies may be able to synthesize their
own toxins with the amino acids they absorb
through the protein-rich pollen they feed on.
Blue Morpho
Morpho peleides (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Tropics of Latin America from
Mexico to Colombia.
Habitat: Feed and sleep on or near the forest
floor, but when mating, they fly throughout
forest layers.
Appearance: A large butterfly: 12–20 cm. Wing
tops are an iridescent blue, caused not by a true
color, such as the dye of blue jeans, but by the
tiny, overlapping scales that cover their wings.
Because of the precise angle of the ridges they
form, the scales reflect blue light back to our
eyes. The contrasting underside of the wing is
brown with a confusion of eyespots that blend
with surroundings and hide the morpho from
predators. Females less brilliantly colored.
Diet: Adult drinks juices of rotting plants and
animals, tree sap, and wet mud, sipping all
with its straw-like proboscis.
Reproduction and Development: Like most
butterflies, males release pheromones to attract
females. Fertilized eggs hatch in about 9 days.
Mortality/Longevity: Total lifespan: egg to
adult, about 4.5 months; adults (butterflies):
about 1 month. Predators include birds and
large insects.
Conservations Status: Not listed, but under
some pressure as trophies for collectors.
Remarks: Blue morphos brilliant reflection is
so intense that pilots report seeing their flash
of color as the butterflies warm themselves
above the treetops.
Different angles of view (and so different
angles of reflecting ridges) produce variations
in the shades of blue perceived.
Orange Barred Sulfur
Phoebis philea (Pieridae)
Whites and Sulfurs
Distribution: Resident from Brazil, north
through Central America to peninsular Florida.
Habitat: Open lowland sites along forest edges.
Also frequents gardens, parks, and road edges.
Appearance: Upperside of male bright yelloworange;
forewing has red-orange bar, hindwing
with red-orange outer margin. Female much
larger than male.
Diet: Caterpillar: Cassia species in the pea
family; adult: nectar from various flowers.
Reproduction and Development: Females
lay single eggs on leaves and flowers of host
plants during the wet season. Caterpillars feed
preferentially on the flowers.
Remarks: These swift, high flyers have been
reported as rare migrants as far north as Canada.
Malachite
Siproeta stelenes (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Common resident throughout
Central and northern South America. In U.S.,
found in southern Texas and south Florida.
Habitat: Subtropical evergreen and
semideciduous forests. Frequent fruit orchards
in Florida.
Appearance: Upperside dark black-brown
with translucent yellow- to lime–green patches.
Underside duller.
Diet: Caterpillars: host plants of the family
Acanthaceae. Adults: rotting fruit; occasionally
bird droppings and nectar.
Reproduction and Development: Eggs
laid singly on host plant leaves. In warmest
climates, up to four broods per year.
Remarks: Named for the mineral malachite,
reminiscent of the bright green of the wings.
Adults roost together under the leaves of low
shrubs. Green and black coloration provides
excellent camouflage.
ORDER HYMENOPTERA
(ANTS)
Leafcutter Ant
Atta cephalotes (Formicidae)
Distribution: Fungus growing ants, or