Philaretes Brown Owl
Common NamePhilaretes Brown Owl
Scientific NameAntirrhea philaretes
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyMorphinae
Wingspan (mm)80
Primary Colorsbrown, white, black
HabitatHumid tropical forests, often near the forest floor
Geographic RangeCentral and South America (e.g., Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil)
Host PlantsArecaceae (palm family)
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical habitats, with peaks during wet seasons
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult. Caterpillars typically feed on plants from the palm family.
Identification TipsKey features include the distinctive diagonal white band across the wings, the single prominent black and white eyespot on the hindwing, and the scalloped hindwing margin.
Description
A medium-sized brown butterfly characterized by a prominent diagonal white band across both forewings and hindwings, and a distinct black and white eyespot on each hindwing. The hindwing margins are noticeably scalloped.
