Nymphalidae : Apaturinae
Doxocopa druryi (Hübner, 1823)
Silver Emperor
Doxocopa druryi (Hübner, 1823)
Silver Emperor
Previously known as: Doxocopa laure. A paper reviewing the Doxocopa laure species complex in Mexico determined that Doxocopa druryi (originally described by Jacob Hübner in 1825) is a separate species from Doxocopa laure (described by Dru Drury in 1773), rather than a mere synonym or subspecies (Elvira, 2022).
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 54-77mm. Sexually dimorphic. Males are distinctive with their yellow, white and purple upperwings. Females lack the purple colouration and are perhaps only confusable with Iphicleola Sister Adelpha iphicleola which is slightly smaller and is yellower on the upperwings.
Range: From southern United States south to Brazil, and on Cuba in the Caribbean. The subspecies druryi is endemic to Cuba.
Status: Widespread in open areas and open woods.
Nectar Plants: Bourreria ovata, Allophylus cominia, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Chromolaena odorata.
Larval Foodplants: Celtis iguanaea and possibly other species of Celtis (Rutaceae). References in the literature to Casearia are incorrect. Oviposition has also been noted on Dendropanax arboreus (Araliaceae) on Pico Turquino (Núñez, R., 2012) but it is not known if larvae would have successfully fed on this plant.
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 54-77mm. Sexually dimorphic. Males are distinctive with their yellow, white and purple upperwings. Females lack the purple colouration and are perhaps only confusable with Iphicleola Sister Adelpha iphicleola which is slightly smaller and is yellower on the upperwings.
Range: From southern United States south to Brazil, and on Cuba in the Caribbean. The subspecies druryi is endemic to Cuba.
Status: Widespread in open areas and open woods.
Nectar Plants: Bourreria ovata, Allophylus cominia, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Chromolaena odorata.
Larval Foodplants: Celtis iguanaea and possibly other species of Celtis (Rutaceae). References in the literature to Casearia are incorrect. Oviposition has also been noted on Dendropanax arboreus (Araliaceae) on Pico Turquino (Núñez, R., 2012) but it is not known if larvae would have successfully fed on this plant.
