High altitude aggregations of Anetia briarea Godart on Hispaniola (Nymphalidae: Danainae)

Abstract

High altitude aggregations of the danaine Anetia hriarea Godart were observed near the summit of Pico Duarte (2500-3000 m) in the Dominican Republic. These observations represent the highest elevation record in the West Indies for butterflies and the first report of high elevation aggregations in the genus Anetia. Anetia hriarea and Danaus plexippus are now the only two neotropical danaines known to form high altitude aggregations, suggesting that this behavior may be a plesiomorphic character for the Danainae.