Nymphalidae : Cyrestinae
Marpesia eleuchea (Hübner, 1818)
Caribbean Daggerwing
Marpesia eleuchea (Hübner, 1818)
Caribbean Daggerwing
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 50-78mm. Sexes similar though males slightly smaller and with forewing tips black rather than brown. Upperwings are bright orange rather than brown as in Many-banded Daggerwing Marpesia chiron. The underwings are more silvery than that species.
Range: Regionally endemic and found only in Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. Has also been seen as a stray in Florida.
Status: Widespread and thinly distributed in Cuba in gardens, open areas and woodland wherever the foodplant grows. The subspecies eleuchea is endemic to Cuba.
Nectar Plants: Tournefortia, Cordia, Ageratum, Croton, Daucus, Ixora, Morinda, Chromolaena, Lantana, Avicennia germinans and also sometimes on damp ground.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae have been found in trees of the genus Ficus.
Range: Regionally endemic and found only in Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. Has also been seen as a stray in Florida.
Status: Widespread and thinly distributed in Cuba in gardens, open areas and woodland wherever the foodplant grows. The subspecies eleuchea is endemic to Cuba.
Nectar Plants: Tournefortia, Cordia, Ageratum, Croton, Daucus, Ixora, Morinda, Chromolaena, Lantana, Avicennia germinans and also sometimes on damp ground.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae have been found in trees of the genus Ficus.
Larva
Pupa
Foodplants and Habitat