Jump to content

Zeuxidia amethystus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zeuxidia amethystus
In William Lucas Distant's Rhopalocera Malayana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Zeuxidia
Species:
Z. amethystus
Binomial name
Zeuxidia amethystus
Butler, 1865

Zeuxidia amethystus, the common Saturn, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1865. This butterfly is relatively large and striking. Its forewings have a broad iridescent-blue band with a similar blue patch on the hindwing. It is not abundant in Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.[clarification needed] It has only be observed in dense forests. It can be approached while feeding on fermenting fallen fruits. Its flight period extends from May to September.[1] It obtains minerals using mud-puddling behavior and seem to be prefer ammonium ions rather than sodium.[2]

It is sometimes collected and displayed as fine wall art.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jansen, Tom. "Butterflies - Morphinae - Zeuxidia amethystus amethystus". samuibutterflies.com. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  2. ^ Erhardt, A. & Rusterholz, H.P. (1998): Do Peacock butterflies (Inachis io) detect and prefer nectar amino acids and other nitrogenous compounds? Oecologia 117(4): 536-542. doi:10.1007/s004420050690 (HTML abstract)
  3. ^ "Zeuxidia amethystus". Bits and Bugs. Retrieved 2017-03-14.