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

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Observation date: unknown

Submitted by: legacy.reporter

Region: Comal County, Texas, United States

Verified by: legacy.verifier