Nymphalidae : Apaturinae
Doxocopa laure (Hübner, 1823)
Silver Emperor
Doxocopa laure (Hübner, 1823)
Silver Emperor
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 Mexico south to Brazil, and on Cuba and Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Status: Widespread in open areas and open woods. The subspecies druryi is endemic to Cuba.
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.
Range: From Mexico south to Brazil, and on Cuba and Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Status: Widespread in open areas and open woods. The subspecies druryi is endemic to Cuba.
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.