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silky owl butterfly

Taenaris sp.

Description:

"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). "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 [see 3rd photo] on the forest floor." (Gotts and Pangemanan, 2001).

Habitat:

Spotted on vegetation and the forest floor along a transect in secondary coastal lowland mixed freshwater swamp forest/sago swamp forest.

Notes:

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.

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14 Comments

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thanks J & Kranti!

KrantiAzad
KrantiAzad 11 years ago

awesome !

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 11 years ago

Spectacular!

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thanks manuelap1!

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thank you Noel

Noel Buensuceso
Noel Buensuceso 11 years ago

Beautiful photos and series!

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thanks Carol & Sumukha!

Sumukha Javagal
Sumukha Javagal 11 years ago

Beauty..!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 11 years ago

I haven't checked out your photos in a while, Scott. WOW! Love it!

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thank you Lisajourney3467!

Lisajourney3467
Lisajourney3467 11 years ago

That is one amazing looking butterfly!

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Thanks Jolly & ViSarancha!

VitoSarancha
VitoSarancha 11 years ago

Beautiful spotting!

Jolly Ibañez
Jolly Ibañez 11 years ago

very beautiful scott.

Scott Frazier
Spotted by
Scott Frazier

Papua, Indonesia

Spotted on Jun 15, 2012
Submitted on Sep 23, 2012

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