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Ruddy Daggerwing
Marpesia petreus

Description:
Medium sized butterfly with a wing span 3 3/4 inches. The upperside is orange with three thin black lines. The underside is mottled brown and black, resembling a dead leaf. The tip of the forewing is elongated and the hindwing has long dagger-like tails.
Range:
Peninsular Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America; strays into southwestern and central United States.
Habitats:
Hammocks and hammock edges.
Ecology:
Native larval host plants include the two native figs: short-leaf fig (Ficus citrifolia) and strangler fig (Ficus aurea). Larvae also feed on the exotic common fig (Ficus carica) and probably other non-native figs.
Flight:
All year in South Florida, but mostly May - July.


 


Archie Edwards
Erin Backus
Erin Backus
Erin Backus
recently emerged adult
Erin Backus
Joe Barros
Erin Backus