View allAll Photos Tagged leafwings
The aptly named Goatweed Leafwing butterfly -- Anaea Andria. I almost missed it entirely, it is so well camouflaged.
A leaf mimic, this large butterfly (4 inches or 11cm) never strays far from its host tree, Cecropia peltata, where it spends its entire life-cycle. Females lay their eggs on the undersides of the cecropia leaves and males perch head-down on the trunk and tree branches where they look out for intruders and defend their territory. When they fly out, they flash their bright orange upper side startling predators as well as butterfly watchers.
Its larva has an ingenious way of defending itself against predators, mostly resident Azteca ants, by building a silk resting platform with a dangling frass chain that discourages predators from approaching it. If a predator still tries to venture out on this repulsive structure, the larva expels an odiferous chemical. Such complex defensive method is perhaps the reason this species earns its scientific epitaph "odius".
Only one sighting of this species. Regrettably, this individual is worn missing the beautiful violet frosting and parts of its leaf-mimicking wings.
Family Nymphalidae; sub-family Nymphalinae (related to Admirals and Crescents, not Leafwings -Charaxinae- with only two species in the genus Historis)
The tiger leafwing (Consul fabius) is the best known species of the genus Consul. The butterfly occurs from Mexico to the Amazon basin in northwestern South America. This species is present in deciduous forest, rainforest, and cloud forest. It usually prefers the forest canopy, the banks of rivers and the forest edges, at elevations between sea level and about 1200 m.
The wingspan is 70 to 80 mm. The upperside of the wings have a bright orange and black pattern, with two yellow bands across the angular forewings. The hindwings are tailed.
With wings closed, the butterfly resembles a dead leaf with dark veins. The shape and colors of the underside would fool predators.
It is a spectacular example of camouflage.
Consul fabius (er is geen Nederlandse naam voor de vlinder) is de bekendste soort van het geslacht Consul.
De vlinder komt voor van Mexico tot in het Amazonegebied in het noordwesten van Zuid-Amerika. De soort leeft in loofbossen, regenwouden en nevelwouden. Consul fabius geeft meestal de voorkeur aan het bladerdak van het bos, de oevers van rivieren en de randen van bossen, op hoogtes tussen het zeeniveau en ongeveer 1200 m.
De spanwijdte is 70 tot 80 mm. De bovenkant van de vleugels heeft een fel oranje en zwart patroon, met twee gele banden over de hoekige voorvleugels. De achtvleugels hebben een staartje.
Met gesloten vleugels lijkt de vlinder een dood blad met donkere nerven. De vorm en kleuren van de onderkant zouden roofdieren voor de gek houden. Het is een spectaculaire camouflage.
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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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Photo taken around Apuya Track, Napo, Ecuador
2018/09/05
DSCN6338-FSCN6348-ARM-FIN-CU_SAAL_AE_CM_S-DPP50-CLA10-VAL30-FIN
The Tiger Leafwing, Consul fabius, is a fairly common leaf-mimic butterfly in the neotropics, but this was the first time I encountered one. The resemblance to the surface of a decaying dead leaf is stunning.
For information on the species: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consul_fabius
For distribution maps, other photos: www.inaturalist.org/taxa/133725-Consul-fabius
October 29, 2024. North of Tena, Napo, Ecuador.
Consul fabius, common name tiger leafwing, is the most common and well known species of the genus Consul of subfamily Charaxinae in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae). It is found all over the Neotropics.
The length of the forewings reaches about 30–40 millimeters (1.2–1.6 in). The upersides of the wings have a bright orange and black pattern, with two yellow bands across the angular forewings. The hindwings are tailed. This butterfly is part of a mimicry ring, as a matter of fact the cryptic undersides of the wings mimic a dead-leaf. The eggs are laid on the leaves of various species of Piperaceae (Piper tuberculatum, Piper auritum, Piper umbellatum, etc.), of which the caterpillars feed. The caterpillars are dark green with reddish spots along the back,while the chrysalis are pale green.
Consul fabius, Tiger leafwing
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Yesterday I posted a shot of a silver-studded leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra) trying to get out of its chrysalis at the Haga Ocean butterfly house (here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52744749968/).
Right next to it, hanging from another chrysalis, was its brother or sister - just slightly older and still waiting for its wings to harden anough that it could fly for the first time.
As with the other shot, this is a good one for seeing the two halves of the proboscis not completely fused together yet if you zoom in a bit.
As the name suggests, this genus, the leafwings, rely on their wings looking like dead leaves when closed.
I don't know if I would ahve noticed this Goatweed leafwing butterfly if I hadn't seen it land. Its ventral view looks quite dried and brown leaf like. I didn't notice its perch until later. The MO Dept. of Conservation goes on to say this: "The winter form emerges from chrysalids at the end of August and lives until May or June, mating in the spring; thus, they hibernate as winged adults and are sometimes seen flying on warm, sunny days in midwinter. The summer form flies from late June into August. The length of daylight experienced by the nearly full-grown caterpillars determines whether they emerge from their pupae as winter- or summer-form adults. Day length also determines if females will mate soon after emerging (summer form) or wait for the winter to pass before mating."
Hi guys! Thank you all so much for your support on my recent photographs. It feels so good to finally be sharing what I've been creating over the last two months.
This photograph in particular means quite a lot to me. Delta Goodrem has been one of my biggest inspirations since I was about nine years old. For those of you who don't know who she is, she's an absolutely incredible Australian singer. I created this piece "Made to Fly" in direct response to her new single "Wings", wanting to portray my interpretation of the track.
I was staying at my Aunty's property around about the time when the track had just been released. I was drawing in my sketch book day in and day out, hoping to really create an amazing photograph. I had this idea to make wings made out of leaves but knew it was going to take some prep time. I collected sticks the day before of the shoot and practised positioning and posing. I was very lucky to have Christian helping me and letting me bounce ideas off of him. On the day of the shoot, It took me about an hour or so to finalise the wings - ensuring that there were enough leaves and that they were exactly the right shape and in the right location. I organised my camera settings and just as the sun was setting, handed over my camera to Christian to click the shutter for me while standing on a ladder. I am so happy with how it turned out and am over the moon that a week later, I got to hand a printed version of this photograph to Delta herself.
I got the opportunity to truly express to her how much she's meant to me in the only way I know how, through what has rapidly become my greatest passion - photography. I'm overwhelmed with happiness that she's set eyes on my work (+ has a copy of it!), expressed her love of the piece + excited about her willingness to possibly work together sometime in the future (fingers crossed - ahh!). If there's anyone I want to see my work, it's her and to this day, even though it's still a bit of a blur, I cannot believe it actually happened.
August 21, 2024, at Mistrató, Risaralda, Colombia.
The Noble Leafwing Butterfly (Fountainea nobili) is a rare leaf butterfly. I believe this specimen is a female. This butterfly's distribution range is from southern Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru/
"Over 3000 species and 2000 sub-species of butterflies live in Colombia, making up around 20% of the Earth's total butterfly population.
I saw this Goatweed leafwing butterfly land and timed a shutter for its wings to open. I didn't notice the feeding object until it was on the big monitor. The MO Dept. of Conservation has this to say: "The caterpillars feed on the leaves of goatweed, hogwort, and other plants in the genus Croton. With their rather short tongues, the adults do not visit flowers, but they often absorb nutrients from damp places, tree sap, decaying fruit, and animal droppings." As Valley Water Mill Park allows dogs, I think that's the animal of origin.
Fazenda Grotão - DF, Brazil.
Like other related butterflies in the subfamily Charaxinae, this one uses its underside wing to mimic a dead leaf.
There are another 60 species in the genus Memphis, all are Neotropical in distribution.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Charaxinae
Tribe: Anaeini
Genus: Memphis Hübner, [1819]
Species: M. moruus (Fabricius, 1775)
Binomial name: Memphis moruus
This Cindy's Leafwing, Fountainea nessus, was perched near a bamboo thicket along a river.
October 19, 2025. Manu Road, Peru.
Australian Leafwing
likes the radiator grill, probing with proboscis...probably paying respects to the many moths and insects who have fallen there
A rather close shot of a butterfly known as the autumn leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide) and also known as the leafwing.
With the wings folded up it really look like a dead leaf, but for me, this one, which I fould at the Haga Ocean Butterfly House, just wanted to sit with the wings open like this.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52267324873/
Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52638876049/
I have another shot of this butterfly, taken with a wide angle macro lens here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52158294196/ and a BTS shot showing how ridiculously close you need to get with that lens here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52158533169/
Click on image to move in closer! Beautiful details.
Be sure to catch a glimpse of the very different outside wings of this butterfly! A dried leaf one way... and a chocolate brown and orange velvet beauty on the other!
I love seeing the pink Pentas flowers in their many stages, from bud to blossom. And look closely at the black proboscis or sipping straw inserted into the heart of one nectar filled Pentas bloom!
Doleschallia bisaltide, commonly known as the Autumn Leaf, is a nymphalid butterfly found in India, also found in Australia where they are known as Leafwing.
Doleschallia bisaltide, Autumn Leaf, Leafwing
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
The species of butterflies which flutter around at the Haga Ocean butterfly house in Solna, Sweden always varies a bit.
There are a couple of "staple" species which are always there, but I have found it great fun with every visit to see if there are any new species which I haven't shot yet.
When visiting in late October of 2022, this one was a first for me. It's a tger leafwing (Consul fabius), sometimes known as the tiger-striped leafwing, a species which can be found in Mexico down to the Amazonas in the wild.
Do zoom in on the eyes on this one, they have cool round rings all over them.
Goatweed leafwing, Anaea andria, which normally perches with wings closed and looks like a dead leaf. Every once in a while one of them will open its wings in the sun and reveal a bright orange upper wing surface. This is in Searight Park in Austin, Texas, and the butterfly is perched on limestone rock beside Slaughter creek.
Here is another butterfly with wings that glow, even when in the shadow. It was hiding in the undergrowth out of direct light but the wings still had this amazing colouration.
I'm having a bit of a problem identifying the exact species, but at the moment I'm thinking it is a shaded-blue leafwing (Prepona laertes).
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52947881275/
Fairly easy to see against a green leaf and backdrop, but it would all but disappear in other settings.
A rather close shot of a butterfly known as the autumn leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide) and also known as the leafwing.
With the wings folded up it really look like a dead leaf, but for me, this one, which I fould at the Haga Ocean Butterfly House, just wanted to sit with the wings open like this.
I have another shot of this butterfly, taken with a wide angle macro lens here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52158294196/ and a BTS shot showing how ridiculously close you need to get wit that lens here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52158533169/