Many-banded Daggerwing
Marpesia chiron (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Cyrestinae
Tribe: Cyrestini
Identification: Hindwing has a long dagger-like tail. Upperside is dark brown with 3 pale brown stripes and 3 white spots near the tip of the forewing. Underside is light brown; basal half is gray with thin orange stripes.
Wing Span: 2 1/8 - 2 5/8 inches (5.4 - 6.7 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on buds of the host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and make a resting platform with silk and dung pellets.
Flight: May-December in Mexico, probably all year in Central America, February and July-October in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of shrubs and trees in the fig family (Moraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from Cordia, Lantana, and Croton.
Habitat: Tropical forests, openings, and river valleys.
Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies. A frequent stray to South Texas; rarely strays to Kansas and southern Florida. Comments: In the tropics this species experiences population explosions and mass migrations.
Conservation: Not required for a 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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 65 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 02, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Petén, Guatemala
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Oct 09, 2016
Submitted by: sadasan
Region: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 13, 2024
Observation date: Jan 24, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: David Hilmy
Region: Stann Creek District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Dec 06, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 19, 2023
Submitted by: BelizeTodd
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
Observation date: Mar 28, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Dec 13, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 10, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2016
Submitted by: primacag
Region: Colima, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Dec 18, 2015
Submitted by: cbruner
Region: Petén, Guatemala
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 03, 2017
Submitted by: Tim Norriss
Region: Holguin, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 15, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Feb 10, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Dec 18, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2018
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2016
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Petén, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 13, 2019
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