Nymphalidae : Charaxinae
Anaea cubana (Druce, 1905)
Cuban Leafwing
Anaea cubana (Druce, 1905)
Cuban Leafwing
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 76-88mm. Sexually dimorphic with males being more reddish-orange above and lacking the four large orange-yellow spots on the forewing. Chestnut Leafwing Cymatogramma echemus is perhaps the only confusion species but that has a large dark border on the forewing and is smaller and more patterned beneath though it can be very dark.
Range: Regionally endemic as it is found only on Cuba and Grand Cayman.
Status: Widespread and not generally common though it is known to have occasional population explosions. It is said to prefer the dry coastal regions but we have also seen it on the edges of forest on hillsides several miles inland.
Nectar Plants: Unknown though the centre photo below shows a female taking moisture from a seemingly dry branch of a flowering Avocado tree in late morning in the dry season.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae have been reared on Pectis sp. and Croton sp.
Range: Regionally endemic as it is found only on Cuba and Grand Cayman.
Status: Widespread and not generally common though it is known to have occasional population explosions. It is said to prefer the dry coastal regions but we have also seen it on the edges of forest on hillsides several miles inland.
Nectar Plants: Unknown though the centre photo below shows a female taking moisture from a seemingly dry branch of a flowering Avocado tree in late morning in the dry season.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae have been reared on Pectis sp. and Croton sp.
Egg
Larva
Foodplants and Habitat
