Meton Hairstreak
Common NameMeton Hairstreak
Scientific NameEumaeus meton
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatTropical and subtropical forests, forest edges
Geographic RangeMexico, Central America (Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)
Host PlantsCycas spp. (cycads)
Flight PeriodYear-round in its range, with peaks during wet seasons
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are known to feed on the leaves of cycad plants, which are toxic to most other herbivores.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive wavy dark brown stripes on the orange-brown underside, the prominent black and orange eyespot on the hindwing, and the presence of short tails. Its association with cycad plants is a key ecological identifier.
Description
A small to medium-sized hairstreak butterfly with an orange-brown underside, marked by wavy dark brown stripes and a prominent black eyespot ringed with orange on the hindwing. It features short, delicate tails on its hindwings.
