Abundance and Activity Patterns in the Butterfly Genera Caligo and Eryphanis

Abstract

During a study of the function of the eye-spots on the wings of the local species of Caligo and Eryphanis, records were kept of the dates and times of observations. These are brought together here to show the annual trend in abundance and the preferred times of activity. Abundance is at a maximum during the months October to January with a minimum in June. The major peak of daytime activity, 33 % of the observations, occurred in the period 1700- 1800, the hour that included the mean time of sunset. A minor peak, 18 % of the observations, occurred from 0800 to 0900, approximately two hours after the mean time of sunrise.