Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Elf
Microtia elva H.W. Bates, 1864
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Forewings elongated and rounded. Wings are black; forewing with two large yellow-orange patches; hindwing with one patch.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 7/16 inches (2.5 - 3.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol all day with a slow flight.
Flight: Late July in South Texas, throughout the year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Not reported.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open fields in seasonal lowland tropics.
Range: Venezuela north through Central America and Mexico. Rare stray to eastern Missouri, South Texas, and southern Arizona.
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: NULL

Verified Sightings

Displaying 1 - 24 of 37 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 24, 2012
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 04, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Aug 25, 2015
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 28, 2020
  Details
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Zacapa, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
  Details
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: John Calhoun
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 13, 2018
  Details
Observation date: Sep 27, 2016
Submitted by: ykswosil@gmail.com
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 20, 2017
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Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
  Details
Observation date: Aug 22, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
  Details
Observation date: Sep 03, 2017
Submitted by: Nick Pulcinella
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 04, 2017
  Details
Observation date: Aug 05, 2017
Submitted by: Dan Weisz
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 13, 2017
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Observation date: Aug 26, 2015
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 30, 2015
  Details
Observation date: Oct 27, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 30, 2015
  Details
Observation date: Apr 01, 2015
Submitted by: John P Gorey
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 01, 2015
  Details
Observation date: Sep 03, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
  Details
Observation date: Sep 29, 2012
Submitted by: Arlene Ripley
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 01, 2012
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Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 22, 2012
  Details
Observation date: Sep 04, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
  Details
Observation date: Oct 10, 2010
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 27, 2011
  Details
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
  Details
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
  Details
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
  Details
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
  Details
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
  Details
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
  Details
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
  Details