Two-eyed Eighty-eight
Common NameTwo-eyed Eighty-eight
Scientific NameDiaethria clymena
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyBiblidinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsblack, yellow, orange
HabitatTropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, clearings
Geographic RangeCentral America, South America (from Mexico to Argentina)
Host PlantsSapium, Trema
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical climates
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLike all butterflies, it undergoes complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid on host plants, hatching into spiny caterpillars that feed on leaves before pupating into a chrysalis, from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsThe most distinctive feature for identification is the underside of the hindwings, which displays a pattern resembling the number '88' or '89', characterized by two large black eyespots with white pupils on an orange-peach field, surrounded by black and yellow stripes.
Description
This butterfly is known for the striking pattern on the underside of its hindwings, which features two prominent black ocelli with white centers on an orange-peach background, bordered by concentric black and yellow bands.
