A Review of Colobura (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with Comments on Larval and Adult Ecology and Description of a Sibling Species

The taxonomyof thegenusColoburaBillberg, 1820, oneof themost commonmembers of the Neotropical lowland forest butterßy fauna, is critically reviewed in light of available information on the morphology of both the immature stages and adults. Although regarded by almost all authors to date as monotypic, Colobura contains two species, one of which is described here as Colobura annulata sp. n. The immature stages of both the new species and Colobura dirce (Linnaeus, 1758) are described, compared, andÞgured. Both larval and adult phenotypes of the two speciesmay be readily separated, and a key to identiÞcation is provided. A review of published and unpublished information on the immature stages, hostplants, and adult behavior of both species reveals a possible case of ecological niche partitioning; larvae of C. dirce are solitary or occur in small groups on predominantly young trees or saplings, whereas those of C. annulata are highly gregarious on mature canopy trees. There is some evidence to suggest that adult ßight height may, in part, be correlated with the height of preferred hostplants.