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Post by nomad on May 8, 2015 10:22:59 GMT
We all know, the giant female of Ornithoptera alexandrae is the World's largest butterfly and they live in fragments of remaining rain forest in the troubled country of Papua. Well, it seems our friends in the States & ( Central & South America) have the smallest butterfly in the world. This is the tiny Brephidium exilis of the Lycaenidae family. Anyone encountered this butterfly or know more about it.  |
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Post by mygos on May 8, 2015 12:18:10 GMT
Interesting post Peter, but would be nice to have the scale  A+, Michel |
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Post by wollastoni on May 8, 2015 12:20:16 GMT
Thanks, I didn't know that.
Must be a pleasure to spread it...
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Post by deliasfanatic on May 8, 2015 13:34:27 GMT
Thanks, I didn't know that. Must be a pleasure to spread it... Exactly what I was thinking. |
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mantisboy
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by mantisboy on May 8, 2015 14:34:33 GMT
It is quoted on bugguide.net as being 12 to 20 mm in wingspan. My smallest butterfly is an undersized male Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) at only 14 mm, shown next to a normal sized male
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Post by wollastoni on May 8, 2015 16:49:12 GMT
Wow ! Thanks radusho ! And here is a picture of Micropsyche ariana :  |
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Post by nomihoudai on May 8, 2015 19:08:50 GMT
I have collected Brephidium in Florida and received some in trades. Catching them is indeed somehow difficult as you first need to spot them. As I used to catch Microlepidoptera before I didn't have too much of a problem with this, but I just found 2 specimens in a place where should have been common. For the mounting, they do not pose any bigger problem than Microleps. I would also say that they can produce the smallest specimens but they are not the smallest species in general. The thing is that they have a large variation in possible wingspans.
Micropsyche ariana is indeed one of the smallest species there is. I have pictures of them from Frankfurt 2 years ago where a pair was for sale, unfortunately out of range of what I was willing to spend on a butterfly.
p.S. Brephidium also exist in Africa, I think they got introduced there by accident.
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Post by nomihoudai on May 9, 2015 14:13:39 GMT
Here is my picture of Micropsyche that I could sneak away with. I have not found them yet in a museum so no close up.  |
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Post by mikelock34 on Jun 6, 2015 14:01:30 GMT
Brephidium pseudofea (isopthalma?) is common here in southeast Louisiana on the coast. They are easy to see while nectaring, but if there are no flowers nearby, the best way to collect them is to walk the marsh late in the day when the sun is low on the horizon. The low sun throws long shadows when the butterflies take flight. You see the long shadow and follow it up the butterfly. Very easy to catch. They are very common.
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