Immature stages and biology of Taygetis Hubner (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae)

Although euptychiine butterflies are among the most diverse nymphalid group in the lowland neotropics, there is almost no information on their biology or classification. Chaetotaxy and descriptions of euptychiine immatures are presented for the first time. Immature stages of five Taygetis species, T. mermeria (Cramer), T. cleopatra C. Felder and R. Felder, T. laches (Fabricius), T thamyra (Cramer), and T. virgilia (Cramer) are described, and head capsules of each stage are illustrated. Field observations of the adults and larvae are also presented, along with information on host use and habitat associations. All species except one were reared from hosts within Poaceae, T. mermeria and T. virgilia from Guadua angustifolia Kunth, T cleopatra from Olyra latifolia Aublet and Pariana sp., and T. laches from Andropogon sp. Taygetis thamyra was reared from Ischnosiphon sp. (Marantaceae). Important characters for phylogenetic analysis are noted and the utility of larval characters in phylogenetic reconstruction is explored.