Archaeoprepona demophon
(Linnaeus, 1758)
one-spotted prepona, banded king shoemaker, demophon shoemaker
Archaeoprepona demophon is a neotropical in the Nymphalidae, recognized by its black wings with bright pale blue transverse bands. The ranges from Mexico through Central America and the West Indies to northern South America. It inhabits forest edges at and subcanopy levels. Larvae feed on plants in the Annona and Malpighia glabra, while are attracted to rotting fruit and .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Archaeoprepona demophon: //ɑːrˌkiːoʊˈprɛpə.nə ˈdɛm.əˌfɑn//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from similar Archaeoprepona by the combination of black uppersides with pale blue transverse bands and the presence of small dark dots on the margins of the pale brown undersides. The 'one-spotted prepona' refers to a characteristic marking, though this may require close examination. Similar species in the may differ in band width, spot patterns, or geographic range. identification requires examination of precise locality and subtle wing pattern differences.
Images
Habitat
Edges of forest and subcanopy in tropical and subtropical forests.
Distribution
Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern portions of South America. Specific have restricted ranges: A. d. demophon in Surinam, A. d. centralis from Mexico and Honduras to Panama, A. d. muson in Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia, A. d. occidentalis in Mexico, and A. d. thalpius in Brazil (Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul).
Diet
Larvae feed on plants of the Annona (Annonaceae) and Malpighia glabra (Malpighiaceae). visit rotting fruit and .
Host Associations
- Annona - larval foodplantplants in Annonaceae
- Malpighia glabra - larval foodplant Malpighiaceae
Behavior
are extremely strong and fast fliers. They readily settle on baits such as fermenting fruit on the ground, a that facilitates observation and collection.
Human Relevance
Occasionally displayed in entomological collections. are attracted to traps using rotting fruit, making them accessible for study and photography. Not known to be of agricultural significance.
Similar Taxa
- Archaeoprepona demophoonClosely related with similar wing patterns; distinguished by taxonomic revision and subtle morphological differences
- Other Archaeoprepona speciesShare black-and-blue banded wing pattern; require examination of band width, spot details, and geographic distribution for separation
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as Papilio demophon by Linnaeus in 1758. Now classified in Archaeoprepona, though some sources still list it under Prepona. The has undergone taxonomic revision, with described based on geographic variation.
Collection notes
Specimens are frequently collected using baited traps with fermenting fruit in neotropical fieldwork, as demonstrated in ongoing biodiversity surveys in Belize.