Agrias aedon question

[Annarobertson1947]

Im posting in Lepidoptera instead of the Agrias chat segment because its a general question not suitable for show my favorite specimen section .
Is there a combination of reasons for Agrias aedon to be scarce in collections as it occurs over a large range and supposedly along with other Agrias species.

[Jshuey]

A few potential reasons. First, in Belize, we have a handful of records, but all are from rainforest growing on granite soils. Most of Belize is limestone I have watched it just sit for hours in the top of trees. And it hates traps!. You often see it investigate them when you first set them, and them fly off never to be seen again! I think we have trapped it three times. Usually you catch it as it flies around the trap.

Interestingly amydon behaves the same way in Belize - only much more rare. Never inside a trap, just flying around the outside of it. Just three records for the entire country. This one in limestone forest.

John

[Annarobertson1947]

Thanks John, thats extremely interesting, a show of real intelligence.
Have always wondered about Aedon.
Your insight is greatly appreciated

[Annarobertson1947]

Are there any observations from Ecuador or other sth American countries??

[wollastoni]

Sure, see here on the Agrias website : https://agrias-butterflies.com/agrias-species-list/

agrias-aedon.png (65.2 KiB) Viewed 157 times

John, do you know which amydon ssp. fly in Belize ? I guess lacandona as I have some from Chiapas and from Honduras.

[Annarobertson1947]

Thanks Wallastoni,
I use Agrias site a lot.
I was meaning field observations on behavior.

[Annarobertson1947]

Thanks John, thats extremely interesting, a show of real intelligence.
Have always wondered about Aedon.
Your insight is greatly appreciated

I am referring to the butterflies intelligence in working out the trap ,
I think my comment came across a bit wrong