Terenthina terentia

Terenthina terentia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Terenthina
Species: T. terentia
Binomial name
Terenthina terentia
Hewitson, 1868

Terenthina terentia, the Terentia hairstreak, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It was described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1868 and is found in Central and South America in habitats including rainforests and cloud forests.[1]

Ecology

The Terentia hairstreak's larval stage is a fuzzy caterpillar that feeds on the flower buds of parasitic plants in the stemsucker family Apodanthaceae which is a parasite on the tree Casearia.[2] In addition, the larvae have a form of symbiosis with ants. The caterpillars produce a sweet-tasting liquid containing sugars and amino acids. In return, the ants provide the caterpillars with protection. The adult butterfly has markings on its wings that look similar to the flower buds in color and shape.[3] Adults feed on nectar from various flowering plants including members of the family Asteraceae.[4] This creates a set of interactions like the one below:

Casearia → Apodanthaceae (parasitism) → T. terentia (sugary liquid) → Ants

References

  1. ↑ Warren, A. D., K. J. Davis, N. V. Grishin, J. P. Pelham, E. M. Stangeland. 2012. Interactive Listing of American Butterflies. [30-XII-12]
  2. ↑ http://parasiticplants.siu.edu/Apodanthaceae/
  3. ↑ "Discovering a New Butterfly-Ant-Parasitic Plant Relationship". Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Terenthina terentia". Butterflies of the Andes. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
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