Butterflies at Home



Tropical Leafwing Butterfly

The Tropical Leafwing butterfly (Anaea aidea) is a member of the brush foot family, and found from Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica, with periodic sightings in southern Texas, Arizona, and California.

They have orange colored leaf-like wings. The underside is brown with darker brown marks; when the wings are folded, it appears as a dead leaf.

Size: 2 1/4" - 3 1/16"

Adult food: rotting fruit, dung, sap, bird droppings
Host plants: crotons (goatweeds)

Compare with the Goatweed Leafwing.

Tropical Leafwing Butterfly (dorsal view)
Tropical Leafwing Butterfly (dorsal view)

Tropical Leafwing Butterfly (ventral view)
Tropical Leafwing Butterfly (ventral view)

Tropical Leafwing Butterflies
Tropical Leafwing Butterflies on an orange

Group of Tropical Leafwing Butterflies
Group of Tropical Leafwing Butterflies