Mutisia Magnifica & Astraptes sp.

(After Heade) 2005
Oil on panel
Dimensions: 13.75" x 10.75"

Daniel Janzen and Paul Hebert used Astraptes fulgerator as a prime example of using a DNA bar-code to help define and sort species. Astraptes fulgerator, as a single species, was thought to range from Texas south to northern Argentina in a wide variety of habitats and elevations. Astraptes fulgerator, or the two-barred flasher, is now believed to be ten non-interbreeding species with overlapping territories. All ten varieties of caterpillars turn into what appears to be the same adult, clearly deriving benefit from this complex mimicry.