Batea Owl
Common NameBatea Owl
Scientific NameBlepolenis batea
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)80
Primary Colorsbrown, cream, dark brown
HabitatTropical rainforests, forest understory
Geographic RangeCentral America, South America (e.g., Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil)
Host Plantspalms, grasses
Flight PeriodYear-round
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae are typically cryptic and feed on monocotyledonous plants like palms or grasses, pupating into a chrysalis before emerging as an adult.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the complex, bark-like cryptic pattern on the underside of the wings, combined with the distinctive arrangement and size of the multiple prominent eyespots, particularly on the hindwings.
Description
This medium-sized butterfly displays a highly cryptic underside, featuring intricate patterns of brown, cream, and dark lines, punctuated by several prominent, ringed eyespots on both forewings and hindwings.
