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 73 - 96 of 201 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: nantucket
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 18, 2018
Submitted by: sstatner
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 25, 2018
Submitted by: HPL
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 04, 2018
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Rrsvargas
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: jodylin
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: massnick
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 03, 2018
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 29, 2018
Observation date: Apr 13, 2018
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 26, 2018
Observation date: Dec 14, 2017
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 24, 2018
Observation date: Dec 16, 2017
Submitted by: bhenthorn
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 24, 2018
Observation date: Feb 27, 2016
Submitted by: KenGonyo
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2017
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 21, 2017
Observation date: Feb 04, 2017
Submitted by: Joanie Howe
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Aug 13, 2017
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2013
Submitted by: RobBuckButterflier
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: Mrscindy09
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 03, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: Justuff
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2017
Observation date: Mar 20, 2017
Submitted by: Anne Wilding
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 25, 2017
Observation date: Mar 05, 2017
Submitted by: Douglas Florida
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 06, 2017
Observation date: Jan 21, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Michoacán, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 24, 2017
Observation date: Nov 26, 2016
Submitted by: totonka
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2016
Observation date: Sep 14, 2016
Submitted by: geraldswegner
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: geraldswegner
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
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