Butterflies of Cusco

Urbanus esmeraldus

Uncommon(?) 850-1050 m. Found inside forest. Attracted to bait and spitwads.

Similar species: Shares displaced and small distal spot at the top of the central band VHW with U. pronus and U. pronta, but both those species have the postdiscal band broken by pale veins.

Male
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-Nov11

Urbanus elmina

Common 1350-2400 m. The most common Urbanus in the Andes; usually the only one above 1500 m. Found in a variety of habiats. Attracted to bait and spitwads.

Similar species: Distinguished from simliar species by the relatively faint markings VHW; note also that males lacks a costal fold.

1350 m., San Pedro, Paucartambo
2021-Nov20

2200 m., Alto Combamayo, Calca
2021-Sep01

Urbanus esta

Uncommon(?) 1050-1350 m., probably lower. Found inside forest; attracted to bait and visits flowers.

Similar species: Male is the only Urbanus in Cusco that lacks a costal fold and has the postdiscal band VHW strongly-marked and solid, not broken by pale veins as in U. pronus.

1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-May14

1350 m., San Pedro, Paucartambo
2016-Nov08

Urbanus pronus

Uncommon(?) up to 1500 m. Attracted to bait and spitwads.

Similar species: The only Urbanus in Cusco without a costal fold and the postdiscal band VHW broken into 'spots' by pale veins. See U. pronta.

1350 m., San Pedro, Paucartambo
2015-Nov20

Male
1500 m., Puente Quencomayo, Calca
2022-Sep22

Urbanus pronta

Uncommon(?) up to 1050 m. Found inside forest; attracted to bait.

Similar species: The only Urbanus in Cusco with a costal fold (males only) and the postdiscal band VHW broken into 'spots' by pale veins. Very similar to U. pronus except for male having a costal fold.