silky owl butterfly

Description:

This is one of the silky owl butterflies (Taenaris). This specimen has different eyespot markings than the most commonly seen species at this location (Taenaris cf. catops). "The species of Taenaris are whitish to grayish, some species with a yellow anal margin on the hindwing, and with prominent eyespots displayed on the hindwings. Some species feed on cycads and may be chemically defended, serving as models for Batesian mimicry in a variety of other groups (including Hyantis, Mycalesis, Hypocysta, Elymnias, and Hypolimnas). Most species occur in New Guinea and surrounding islands." (EOL). Based on an illustration in van Mastrigt et al (2010) and a corroborating comment below (by Jeff), I am going to call it T. dimona. However it is important to note that "Only in a few cases is identification to species possible from the pattern of the ocelli since these can be highly variable. All [species] are diurnal but appear to prefer the shade, feeding on rotten fruit on the forest floor." (Gotts and Pangemanan, 2001).

Habitat:

Observed alighting on various trees (mostly mango in this spotting) after feeding on a rotten fallen guava fruit. This was in a large semi-urban yard & garden near a disturbed patch of remnant forest. This is in the equatorial lowland tropics of northern New Guinea.

Notes:

van Mastrigt, Henk, Mambrasar, Rinto & Ramandey, Euniche, 2010. Buku Panduan Lapagan Kupu-kupu. Untuk Wilayah Kepala Burung Termasuk Pulau-pulau Provinsi Papua Barat, Tim Redaksi Kelompok Entomologi Papua, 196 p. /--------------------------------------/ Gotts, R.I.C., and N. Pangemanan. 2001. Mimika butterflies: a guide to the butterflies of the Mimika subdistrict of Papua. PT Freeport Indonesia Biodiversity Centre, Timika, Indonesia.