Lethe diana explained

Lethe diana, the Diana treebrown, is a brush-footed butterfly (subfamily Satyrinae) in the family Nymphalidae. Its wings are a dark shade of brown, with an eyespot pattern, and a wingspan of about 45–55 mm.[1] It resembles Lethe confusa; however, the Lethe confusa bears a white band on its wings, setting them apart.

Description

The Lethe diana wingspan ranges from 45 to 55 mm. Its forewings are dark brown, and sometimes have white belt-like patterns that are more apparent on the female. The hindwings are also dark brown with an eyespot pattern adorning the back, with about one or two small eyespots and on the forewings, and six eyespots ranging in size on the hindwing. The veins are a distinctly noticeable darker brown.

Range

The Lethe diana can be found in regions of Russia such as Primorye, Sakhalin and South Kuril. Regions of Japan such as Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Tsushima.

Habitat

Lethe diana can be found in deciduous forests from flatlands and mountains.

Life cycle

The Lehte diana undergoes the four stages of complete metamorphosis:

Eggs

Eggs are laid singularly under the surface of a blade of bamboo grass, and the larvae grows on its own.[2]

Larval host plants

Adult food sources

Lethe diana is also known to suck the fluids of carrion[5] in a process known as mud-puddling.

Subspecies

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lethe diana (Diana Treebrown) Treasures of Mt. Takao TAKAO 599 MUSEUM. www.takao599museum.jp. 2016-04-29.
  2. Ide. Jun-Ya. 2003-01-10. Age patterns in leaves used by larvae of the satyrine butterfly Lethe diana. 54. 1.
  3. Web site: Satyridae, Lethe diana (Butler, 1866). rusinsects.com. 2016-04-29.
  4. Web site: Lethe diana - NCBI Taxonomy - Encyclopedia of Life. eol.org. 2016-04-29.
  5. Web site: IDE J.-Y. (Japanese). ecol.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp. 2016-04-29.
  6. Web site: Lethe diana. insecta.pro. 2016-04-29.