White peacock | |
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A. j. jatrophae, Tobago | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Nymphalidae |
Tribe: | Victorinini |
Genus: | Anartia |
Species: | A. jatrophae |
Binomial name | |
Anartia jatrophae (Linnaeus, 1763) |
Anartia jatrophae (white peacock) is a species of butterfly found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and throughout much of South America.
The males of the species display a unique territorial behavior, in which they stake out a territory typically 15 meters in diameter that contains larval host plants. They perch in this area and aggressively protect it from other insects and other male white peacocks.
Topside, male MHNT
Underside, male MHNT
Topside, female MHNT
Underside, female MHNT
Jamaican white peacock A. j. jamaicensis
A. j. jatrophae, Tobago
A. j. guantanamo, Cuba