North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Red Rim (Biblis hyperia)
JPG -- species photo

Red Rim (Biblis hyperia [Cramer])

Wing span: 2 - 3 inches (5.1 - 7.6 cm).

Identification: Upperside is brown-black; hindwing has a red submarginal band and a scalloped outer edge.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters on shoots of young host plants. Caterpillars make a perch with dung pellets and silk.

Flight: February and July-November in South Texas, March-November in Mexico and Central America.

Caterpillar hosts: Noseburn (Tragia volubilis) in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).

Adult food: Rotting fruit and other non-floral resources.

Habitat: Open subtropical forests.

Range: Paraguay north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies. Periodic resident in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas; strays to central Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

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.



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 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.

Red Rim (Biblis hyperia)
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page