Article
Vol. 65-35, 2026
Life Woven in Mist: Immature stages and morphology of Andean Pronophilina butterflies from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Satyrinae: Satyrini)
Yeison E.V. Garrido*, Mariajose Hernández-Caballero, Shinichi Nakahara, Pierre Boyer, Vanessa Díaz-S, Oscar Jaime, Oscar Mahecha-J, Tomasz W. Pyrcz
Communicated by Jens Thorvald Høeg

The subtribe Pronophilina comprises the most diverse lineage of Andean butterflies, with 59 genera and approximately 650 described species. Most studies on this group have focused on adults, highlighting a substantial gap in knowledge regarding the immature stages of the majority of species. Here, we document immatures stages of five Pronophilina species (Idioneurula erebioides, Daedalma drusilla, Pedaliodes ochrotaenia, P. nebris, P. guicana) for the first time. Additionally, we document immature stages of two additional species (Lymanopoda samius, Junea doraete) from the Eastern Cordillera in Colombia, building on earlier studies on these two taxa. The methodology involved systematic searches for eggs and larvae on potential host plants in the field. Collected larvae were photographed and monitored in the laboratory. Data on their interactions with host plants and parasitoids are presented. This approach allowed a comprehensive characterization of the life cycles, host plant associations, and larval behavior of each instar, providing valuable insights into the biology and ecology of this group of butterflies.

Keywords

High-elevation ecosystems, Host plant use, Larval development, Life history, Ontogeny, Parasitoid associations, Plant-insect interactions

About this article
Citation:

Garrido YEV, Hernández-Caballero M, Nakahara S, Boyer P, Díaz-S V, Jaime O, Mahecha-J O, Pyrcz TW. 2026. Life woven in mist: immature stages and morphology of Andean Pronophilina butterflies from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia (Satyrinae: Satyrini). Zool Stud 65:35. doi:10.6620/ZS.2026.65-35.

( Received 14 March 2026 / Accepted 15 June 2026 / Published 11 September 2026 )
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2026.65-35