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
Gann, G.D., M.E. Abdo, J.W. Gann, G.D. Gann, Sr., S.W.
Woodmansee, K.A. Bradley, E. Grahl and K.N. Hines. 2005-2013. Natives For Your Neighborhood. http://www.regionalconservation.org.
The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida USA.