North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature

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Butterflies of North America

Mexican Eighty-eight (Diaethria asteria)

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Mexican Eighty-eight (Diaethria asteria [Godman & Salvin])

Wing span: 1 5/8 - 1 11/16 inches (4.1 - 4.3 cm).

Identification: Upperside is purple with a white spot at the tip of the forewing. Underside of hindwing is gray-white with a thin black-outlined "88."

Life history:

Flight: September in Mexico, July in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Tropical plants in the elm and soapberry families.

Adult food: Rotting fruit, dung.

Habitat: Wet tropical forests.

Range: Southern Mexico and northern Central America. Has strayed to South Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

DeVries, P. J. 1987. The butterflies of Costa Rica and their natural history. 
     Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 
     New Jersey. 327 pages,50 color plates.

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 
     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 
     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

Mexican Eighty-eight (Diaethria asteria)

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