Methona
Males of the species Methona confusa
Methona is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae ( Nymphalidae ).
Features
When the representatives of the genus Methona is medium-sized butterflies that reach a wingspan of seven to ten centimeters. The caterpillars are colored flashy.
Way of life
The caterpillars of the genus Methona live socially and feed exclusively on leaves of the genus Brunfelsia (Solanum (Solanaceae ) ). The following table shows the known relationships between the tracks of individual Methona types and serving as fodder plant Brunfelsia species.
Occurrence
The distribution of the genus coincides largely with the South American area of distribution of the caterpillars forage plants of the genus Brunfelsia. The largest number of species found in the Andes, three species are native to the Amazon basin, two in northeastern Brazil and a kind in southeastern Brazil. A disjunct population of Methona confusa in Cerro Jefe, Panama is considered a separate subspecies. In the West Indies, where some species of Brunfelsia are located, no Methona can be found. In western Argentina specimens of the genus were found, although there are no Brunfelsia home. It is likely that the caterpillars feed on cultivated plants in gardens.
System
The genus includes seven species Methona and some subspecies:
- Methona confusa Butler, 1873 Methona confusa confusa
- Methona confusa Psamathe
- Methona Grandior Grandior
- Methona Grandior incana
- Methona maxima maxima
- Methona maxima nigerrima
- Methona Themisto Themisto