Ruddy Daggerwing
Marpesia petreus (Cramer, 1776)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Cyrestinae
Tribe: Cyrestini
Identification: Tip of forewing is elongated. Hindwing has long dagger-like tails. Upperside is orange with 3 thin black lines. Underside is mottled brown and black, resembling a dead leaf.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 inches (7 - 9.5 cm).
Life History: To watch for females, males perch 15-30 feet above ground on sunlit trees.
Flight: Most of the year in Florida, but are most common from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Common fig (Ficus carica) and wild banyan tree (F. citrifolia) in the fig family (Moraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from giant milkweed in Florida; Cordia, Casearia, Lantana, and Mikania in the tropics.
Habitat: Tropical lowland forests and edges; hardwood hammocks.
Range: Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida. Strays north to Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and South Texas.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern in Florida.
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 195 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 03, 2025
Submitted by: BernieBerry
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 03, 2025
Observation date: Nov 22, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 24, 2024
Submitted by: Genetk44
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: Monicahiggins@y...
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: Ann M
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 30, 2024
Observation date: Apr 11, 2024
Submitted by: solecitoilu
Region: Masaya, Nicaragua
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 12, 2024
Observation date: Dec 29, 2016
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: sdgoebel
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 20, 2024
Observation date: Jan 30, 2024
Submitted by: lyndageller
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 13, 2024
Observation date: Dec 09, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Coclé Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: ButterflyLover1024
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: Dec 17, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: Feb 12, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: La Libertad, El Salvador
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2023
Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 04, 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: Jan 22, 2023
Submitted by: Rizzo Homeschool
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 22, 2023
Observation date: Jan 03, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Dec 09, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 10, 2022
Observation date: Feb 02, 2009
Submitted by: Rmart
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Jan 15, 2020
Submitted by: Geni Certain
Region: Guerrero, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
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