Our Belize Vacation
  • Home Page
  • About Belize
    • Where is Belize?
    • Belize Information >
      • Calendar of Events
    • Traveling to Belize >
      • International Flights & Airlines
      • Arriving To Belize
      • Leaving Belize
    • Traveling in Belize >
      • Water Taxi Transfers
      • Land Shuttle Transfers
      • Golf Cart Rentals
    • Travel Tips
    • Travel Insurance
    • FAQ
  • Vacation Destinations
    • Best Accommodations
    • Ambergris Caye >
      • About San Pedro
    • Caye Caulker
    • Islands & Atolls >
      • Where To Eat
    • Cayo District
    • Belize District
    • Stann Creek District
    • Orange Walk >
      • Things To Do
    • Corozal District
    • Toledo District
  • Tours & Activities
    • Best of Belize
    • Things To Do >
      • Foods of Belize
    • Unguided Activities
    • Diving
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Sailing
    • Adrenaline
    • Jungle
    • Caving
    • Mayan Temples

TIGER MIMIC QUEEN BUTTERFLIES OF BELIZE - "Look but don't eat!"

7/29/2011

1 Comment

 
Picture
LAUREN'S BUTTERFLIES OF BELIZE (Part Six)

Is brought to you by
ReMax Isla Bonita - everything we touch, turns to sold!

Picture
There are nine recognized subspecies of the tiger mimic butterfly.   However, no matter what its wing pattern, coloration, or sex, a tiger mimic butterfly can be identified by a characteristic round spot on the upper side of its forewings (as seen in the picture tot he left).

The tiger mimic is the most widespread and abundant butterfly species in Costa Rica (a neighboring country to Belize), where it can be observed flying on a regular basis in every city.  It is considered a weak flier, therefore it tends to frequent wind-sheltered areas.

The tiger mimic, which is sometimes called the sweet oil butterfly, is unpalatable and extremely toxic to vertebrate predators.  During the larval stage, tiger mimics feed in groups on the leaves of nightshades (such as the potato, eggplant and other common nightshades), which are known for their toxic compounds. The larvae ingest and sequester the compounds that then serve as a defensive mechanism against vertebrate predators.  However, predators such as the parasitic wasps, flies, or spiders, and predatory ants, are not detered by their toxic nature.  With these toxic compounds, the Tiger mimic caterpillars demonstrate a sort of chemical camouflage that serves as a protection for them from other insects. Since the caterpillars are able to sequester lipids from nightshade leaves into their cuticles, the larvae become chemically indistinguishable from their hosts and the ants do not recognize them as prey.

The tiger mimic butterfly and other representatives of the tiger-striped mimicry rings are popular with butterfly enthusiasts,  because of their clear defensive strategy against predatory birds and lizards. Moreover, the slow wing beat of adult tiger mimics makes them easy to view and photograph and, therefore, the species is a favorite at butterfly gardens and conservatories. Unlike many Neotropical butterflies, which are at risk of extinction, the tiger mimic appears to not only be surviving, but also thriving.

1 Comment
    Picture

    Lauren

    Hi, my name is Lauren.  I've been living in Belize my entire life.  I hope you enjoy reading about things all the things I like. 


    BUTTERFLIES OF BELIZE!
    Check out my current blog series on Butterflies of Belize. I have 72 butterflies to tell you about.
    COMING SOON!
    I have a new blog series coming soon. 
    IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR THIS SERIES WITH YOUR COMPANY'S ADVERTISEMENT, ......
    Please let me know.

    Categories

    All
    Agrias Butterfly
    Bagel Cream Cheese
    Banana Beach
    Barrier Reef
    Belize
    Blue Leafwing Butterfly
    Butterflies
    Casa Pisces
    Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies
    Conch Fritters
    Conch Shells
    Crimson Banded Black Butterfly
    El Divino Restaurant
    Exciting
    Family
    Fish
    Fish Fingers
    Fresh Orange Juice
    Fruit Plate
    Fun
    Grape Fanta
    Green Hills Butterfly Ranch
    Hol Chan
    Hot Coffee
    Hurricanes
    Jungle Juice
    Kids
    Leafwing Butterflies
    Lunch
    Nurse Sharks
    Orange Fanta
    Owl Butterfly
    Pink Cattleheart Butterflies
    Polydamas Swallowtail Butterfly
    Pool Party
    Rain Forest
    Ramon
    Red Cracker Butterfly
    Red Fanta
    Red Rim Butterfly
    Sailing
    Sapho Longwind Butterfly
    Snails
    Sprite
    Swallowtail Cattleheart Butterfly
    Swimming
    Tigger Mimic Butterfly
    Travel
    Tropical
    Vacations
    Youtube


    Archives

    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Where To Stay
Ambergris
Caye Caulker
Islands - Atolls
Placencia
Cayo
Belize City
Dangriga
Hopkins
Orange Walk
Corozal
Toledo

Picture
Our Belize Vacation
Ambergris Caye, Coconut Drive
San Pedro, Belize


What To Do
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Reef Fishing
Sailing in Belize
Jungles & Parks
Caving Systems
Maya Temples
Spa Treatments

          All Rights Reserved.  Copyright @ 2021
  • Home Page
  • About Belize
    • Where is Belize?
    • Belize Information >
      • Calendar of Events
    • Traveling to Belize >
      • International Flights & Airlines
      • Arriving To Belize
      • Leaving Belize
    • Traveling in Belize >
      • Water Taxi Transfers
      • Land Shuttle Transfers
      • Golf Cart Rentals
    • Travel Tips
    • Travel Insurance
    • FAQ
  • Vacation Destinations
    • Best Accommodations
    • Ambergris Caye >
      • About San Pedro
    • Caye Caulker
    • Islands & Atolls >
      • Where To Eat
    • Cayo District
    • Belize District
    • Stann Creek District
    • Orange Walk >
      • Things To Do
    • Corozal District
    • Toledo District
  • Tours & Activities
    • Best of Belize
    • Things To Do >
      • Foods of Belize
    • Unguided Activities
    • Diving
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Sailing
    • Adrenaline
    • Jungle
    • Caving
    • Mayan Temples