Observations on the migratory patterns of the butterfly Phoebis statira (Cram) in North and South Trinidad

The yellow migrant , Phoebis statira (Cram) is distributed throughout Latin America and the Caribbean region, including the Guianas, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago (Barcant, 1970). P. statira usually are greatly attracted to flowers and are found generally in open areas with sunshine. In addition, they usually migrate each year with the onset of the rainy season and this migratory behaviour has been documented in 1918, 1919, 1926, 1932,1947,1954,1962 (Quesnel 1971) and in 1960 in Rio Claro ( Barcant 1970). In 1969, observations we re made at Nariva, Petit Valley, Valsayn Park, Sangre Grande. Manzanilla , and Mayaro (Quesnel 1971). This paper describes the migratory patterns of P. statia observed over three days in August 1995 in the small village of Tableland, located east of San Fernando on the Naparima-Mayaro Road and at Champ Fleurs, a town located a long the Eastern Main Road in north Trinidad.