Mechanitis polymnia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name:
Polymnia Tigerwing

Synonyms:

Papilio polymnia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Natural History:

Probably common in Brazil and occur all year. This species lives well on forest edge, flying slowly and close to the ground. Leaves the eggs on solanaceous plants, with cycle of life on average one month in the nature. The cycle of life can be longer in butterfly house, where can be easily created (Otero & Marigo, 1992). Larvae are white and the pupae shows silver staining (Berti Filho & Cerignoni, 2010).

Distribution:
Bolivia; Brasil; Colombia; Ecuador; Guatemala; Honduras; Perú; Suriname; Venezuela

Occurence Period:

Occur throughout the whole year

Feeding Adult:

Nectar of Asteraceae, decomposing organic matter, bird droppings (see Ray & Andrews, 1980)

Feeding Caterpillars:

There is record of a species of Passifloraceae in Colombia,  Passiflora edulis. In Brazil are recorded  many species of host-plant in Solanaceae (Beccaloni et al. 2008). see below.

Brugmansia candida, Brunfelsia grandiflora, Cyphomandra betacea, Cyphomandra corymbiflora, C. diplocomos, C. sciadostylis, C. velutina, Lycopersicon sp., Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanum  spp., Solanum aculeatissimum, S. adenotrichum, S. crinitum, S. granuloso-leprosum, S. hexandrum, S. incarceratum, S. lycocarpum, S. mauritianum, S. palinacanthum, S. robustus, S. scuticum, S. sessiliflorum, S. sisymbriifolium, S. spinosissimun, S. stramoniifolium, S. variabile. 

Color:
orange, black, yellow

Publications:

Otero L.S., Marigo L.C. (1992):

Butterflies of Carajás. Book., Rio de Janeiro, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce: 1-76

Berti Filho E., Cerignoni J.A. (2010):

Borboletas. Book., Piracicaba, FEALQ: 1-94

Beccaloni G.W, Viloria A.L., Hall S.K., Robinson G.S. (2008):

Catalogue of the hostplants of the Neotropical butterflies. Book., London, S.E.A., Ribes, CYTED, Natural History Museum, IVIC: 1-536

Ray T.S., Andrews C.C. (1980):

Antbutterflies: Butterflies that follow army ants to feed on antbird droppings. Science. 210: 1147-1148