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Megarus/Ziba Hairstreak

Strymon megarus/ziba

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Species ID Suggestions

Megarus/Ziba Hairstreak

Strymon megarus/ziba

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (10)
bayucca
Even I have difficulties to ID some butterflies and most of moths (never forget: in Costa Rica there are about 8000 species of moths!). So I really can't bother about host plants, although I exactly know how important they would be. Today I would always take pictures of the surrounding plants of boths caterpillar and butterflies. So, if you find out something interesting, let me know. Would be perfect!!
Sergio Monteiro
BTW, one of the papers you linked to says that "Strymon ziba fed on the fruits of Aechmea nudicaulis, S. oreala on those of Ae. lindenii and Ae. caudata and S. serapio on the dry capsules of Vriesea friburgensis." (Simone Schmid, Volker S. Schmid, Rafael Kamke, Josefina Steiner and Anne Zillikens; Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera). And I spotted these eggs laid on a bromeliacea: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9490622 It is not Aechmea nudicaulis, but it seems to be interesting enough for a research. I'll tell you if I discover something.
bayucca
Believe me, open wing shot of blues are even nastier to ID...
Sergio Monteiro
Bayucca, I knew you woudn't let me down. Just between you and me, to ID these beauties sometimes becomes really confusing... I wanted so badly to photograph them with the upper wings open, but I'd need to capture them for that, which I think is not my duty.
bayucca
And here we go with some identical ones. ID is unfortunately not possible to 1 species without the native specimen and a real expert. This is really a terribly complex group of blues. In the link below you can see what I am talking about... In the link above these 2 species where just called Megarus/Ziba which is probably the best solution! http://journals.fcla.edu/mundi/article/view/24859/24190 http://lepidopteraresearchfoundation.org/journals/42/jrl_42_50_55.pdf http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/strymon_megarus.htm http://butterfliesofamerica.com/strymon_megarus.htm http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Strymon_ziba_a.htm
bayucca
Thanks for the compliments... I indeed have some IDeas, but need to verify. Sergio is right with "some if blues are looking almost identical". There are sometimes just a few little spots which differ. I'll take first some easy ones and will check this one later...
achmmad
You're welcome! I do, haha. Butterfly still new to me since I'm interested in plants. Waiting for Bayucca is great!
Sergio Monteiro
Thank you for your help, Achmmad, but one thing I learned from Bayucca is that there are several species of these Lycaenidae butterflies that are almost identical but for some tiny differences. If you don't mind, I'll wait for the experts... :-)
achmmad
If you won't wait an expert, you can check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajuria. Hope it can help you, Sergio :)

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Butterflies & Moths of the World
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Borboletas do Parana - Butterflies from Parana, Brazil
Photographed
PublishedMarch 15, 2012

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