Steroma bega
Common NameSteroma bega
Scientific NameSteroma bega
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsblack, dark brown, white
HabitatHigh-altitude cloud forests, montane forests, paramo edges
Geographic RangeAndes of South America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)
Host Plantsgrasses, bamboos
Flight PeriodYear-round (peaking during wet season)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Larvae are likely feeders on grasses or bamboos found in its high-altitude habitat.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its uniformly dark, almost sooty appearance, the irregular pale speckling on the hindwing underside, and its characteristic high-altitude Andean cloud forest habitat. The somewhat ragged wing margins are also distinctive.
Description
A small, dark brown to black butterfly with somewhat irregular or scalloped wing margins. Its undersides, particularly the hindwings, are sparsely speckled with pale yellowish-white scales, giving it a mottled appearance.
