Invertebrates
Giant Owl Butterfly
Caligo memnon · also called owl butterfly, banana butterfly
At dusk on a rainforest floor, a giant owl butterfly settles on a fallen fruit, its folded wings showing a pair of huge eyes that stare out like those of a small owl.
Overview
The giant owl butterfly, Caligo memnon, is a Not Evaluated butterfly of rainforests from Mexico to Brazil. Its owl-like eyespots, dusk activity, and taste for rotting fruit make it one of the most distinctive butterflies of the American tropics.
A butterfly with owl eyes
The eyespots on the underwings may startle small predators, while the rest of the wing pattern helps the butterfly blend into bark and leaf litter.
Status
Not Evaluated by the IUCN, though it is widespread and common.
Giant Owl Butterfly: common questions
Why is it called the owl butterfly?
It has huge eyespots on the undersides of its wings that resemble the eyes of an owl.
When is the giant owl butterfly active?
It flies mainly at dusk and dawn, rather than in the heat of the day.
What does the giant owl butterfly eat?
Adults feed on the juices of rotting fruit, and caterpillars eat banana and heliconia leaves.
Where is the giant owl butterfly found?
It lives in rainforest from Mexico through Central America to Brazil.