Cyrestis achates

Cyrestis achates
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Cyrestis
Species:	C. achates
Binomial name
	Cyrestis achates; Butler, 1865
Synonyms
	Cyrestis nedymnus C. & R. Felder, 1865;

Cyrestis achates is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in south-east Asia.

Description

The meridional stripes are complete and rather heavy, more so than in thyodamas and nais; the first and second consist, when they start at the costa of the forewings, of two branches having their interspaces delicately laved with pale blue; in no other Cyrestis form we find so much blue along the costa in the basal half; also the submarginal band is on either wing most profusely marked with blue. The chain-pattern is so indistinct, that we can barely recognize the two links at the anal extremity of the submarginal band on the hindwings. The innermost meridional stripe does not reach on the hindwing the anal margin, but ends shortly beyond the median vein; but the first median nervule being obscured with black appears like the continuation of the meridional stripe. The females are larger and paler and have the tails longer.^[2]

Biology

The larvae feed on Ficus species. They feed in large groups.

Subspecies

Cyrestis achates achates (Aru to West Irian to Papua and Goodenough Island)
Cyrestis achates bougainvillei Ribbe (Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Santa Isabel)
Cyrestis achates whitmei Butler (Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia)

References

^ "Cyrestis Boisduval, 1832" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
^ Seitz , A. Band 9: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die indo-australischen Tagfalter, 1927, 1197 Seiten 177 Tafeln This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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[1] "Cyrestis Boisduval, 1832" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms

[2] Seitz , A. Band 9: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die indo-australischen Tagfalter, 1927, 1197 Seiten 177 Tafeln This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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