Tropical Leafwing
Anaea aidea (Guérin-Méneville, [1844])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Charaxinae
Identification: Underside looks like a dead leaf.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 1/16 inches (5.7 - 7.8 cm).
Life History: Adults are rapid, strong fliers and often perch high in trees. Males perch on branches 6-10 feet above the ground to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on the host plant; caterpillars eat leaves. Young caterpillars use a leaf vein as a perch; older caterpillars rest in rolled-up leaves.
Flight: The dry season form flies from September-April; the wet season form from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various Croton species in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Adult Food: Sap, dung, and decaying fruit.
Habitat: Tropical forest edges, trails, streamsides.
Range: Northwest Costa Rica north to Mexico. Wanders occasionally to California, Arizona, Kansas, and South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: Is a full species, not a subspecies of A. troglodyta.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 151 verified sightings
Observation date: May 26, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 26, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: Marcia Corl
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: John Saba
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 02, 2022
Observation date: Dec 13, 2021
Submitted by: joel151
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 14, 2021
Observation date: Dec 03, 2021
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 04, 2021
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Oct 23, 2021
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2017
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2016
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 10, 2021
Observation date: Oct 30, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Nov 13, 2020
Submitted by: EFDEMOUL
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Feb 15, 2019
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Dec 12, 2014
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: Feb 22, 2016
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 17, 2019
Observation date: Feb 26, 2019
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2019
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 14, 2018
Observation date: Nov 30, 2018
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 04, 2018
Observation date: Nov 23, 2016
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 16, 2018
Observation date: Nov 08, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2018
Observation date: Nov 12, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Nov 19, 2017
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 24, 2017
Observation date: Oct 28, 2017
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2017
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