Silver Emperor
Doxocopa laure (Drury, 1773)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Identification: Upperside of male is dark brown with some blue iridescence; median band is white on hindwing and mostly orange on forewing. Female upperside is dark brown without iridescence; median band is white on both wings and ends with a yellow spot at the leading edge of the forewing. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is grayish with a silvery iridescence.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 1/4 inches (7 - 8.2 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on new growth of the host plant. Caterpillars make resting perches on top of leaves.
Flight: July-December in South Texas; all year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Tree and shrub Celtis in the elm family (Ulmaceae).
Adult Food: Rotting fruit, dung, sap, carrion.
Habitat: Subtropical wooded areas and edges.
Range: In lowland tropics from Brazil north to northern Mexico. Strays occasionally to the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Conservation: Not required for a rare tropical 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: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 35 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 30, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: Dec 05, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 05, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 09, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Feb 24, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 12, 2023
Observation date: Nov 05, 2017
Submitted by: pasicam
Region: Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2022
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 21, 2017
Submitted by: jartigas59
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 25, 2018
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Camaguey, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Dec 07, 2015
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Matanzas, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2004
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
Observation date: Aug 05, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 06, 2015
Observation date: Dec 11, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Dec 11, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 26, 2007
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen (Kelly Mortensen)
Verified date: Jul 24, 2009
Observation date: Oct 14, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
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