North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Common Banner (Epiphile adrasta)
JPG -- species photo

Common Banner (Epiphile adrasta Hewitson)

Wing span: 2 1/4 - 2 5/8 inches (5.7 - 6.7 cm).

Identification: Both sexes with squared-off forewing tip. Female upperside: forewing is brown with a cream median band and a cream spot at apex, orange wing base and tip; hindwing is orange with brown on upper part of the outer margin. Male upperside has alternating orange and black bands. Undersides of both sexes are mottled brown, resembling bark.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly under mature host plant leaves. Caterpillars rest on a platform made of a leaf vein with dung and silk attached to it. Caterpillars strike with their horns when disturbed, and can puncture another caterpillar. Chrysalids when disturbed can move the abdomen to make creaking sounds.

Flight: All year in Mexico, October in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Vines in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae).

Adult food: Sap, rotting fruit, and dung.

Habitat: Tropical rain and cloud forests.

Range: Panama north through Central America to Mexico. A rare stray to South Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


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

State and Regional References:


Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 

     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 

     Privately published, Denver, Colo.

Common Banner (Epiphile adrasta)
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