Ruddy Daggerwing Butterfly; Marpesia petreus
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Host plant: Fig Ficus sp.. Scroll down for information about the lifecycle of Ruddy Daggerwing butterflies. Click on any photo to view a larger version. |
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Marpesia petreus Photo by Carolyn Walsh |
makes a line out of frass to sit upon when not eating. |
black with four black spikes and black antennae. |
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normally are found on the sides or bottoms of leaves. |
(back five sets of legs) are hairy. |
chrysalis (pupa) are green with black spikes. |
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emerges, it turns orange and yellow. |
on its host plant strangler fig Ficus aurea |
are orange with black stripes and long black tails. Photo by Carolyn Walsh |
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Found on the right side of Lake Okeechobee, these caterpillars were colorful and a delight to raise. Like the adult form, their primary colors are orange and black. Their host plants are in the Ficus family. These caterpillars were found and raised on Strangler Fig, Ficus aurea. Eggs are laid near the edge of a leaf. The caterpillar (larva) hatches, starts to eat the edge of the leaf, and makes a line of frass upon which it rests while not eating. Strangler fig leaves 'bleed' white sap when broken. If you are searching for these caterpillars in the wild, watch for traces of white on the leaves, a sign that the leaves have been damaged; by caterpillars, wind, bugs, or other causes. The caterpillars are orange and black. Four black spikes are along their backs. They boast two black antennae. The chrysalis (pupa) is green with black trimmings. The day before the adult emerges, the wing pads of the chrysalis turns orange and the abdomen of the chrysalis turns yellow. Ruddy Daggerwing butterflies are reported to be found in southern Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, and Mexico as well as other countries. Ruddy Daggerwing adult butterflies prefer to drink nectar from flowers as their primary food source. |
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Located 45 minutes from the Butterfly Rainforest Exhibit at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
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