OWL BUTTERFLIES - TROPICAL BUTTERFLY OF BELIZE

LAUREN'S BUTTERFLIES OF BELIZE (Part Two)

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Butterflies from Around the World:  http://www.pbase.com/lejun/butterflies_from_around_the_world

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Owl Butterflies are large, tropical butterflies found in secondary forests and rainforests from Mexico down to the Amazon in South America.  Owl butterflies are typically active during the daytime, but these specific butterflies are most active around twilight hours each morning.  So during the day, you are most likely to see them resting.

It is easy to see why they are called Owl Butterflies.  Their wings look like the face of an owl, and if you spread the wings out, you can actually see a pair of eyes looking straight at you. 

Owl Butterflies have a wingspan up to 6 inches. Their dorsal wing surfaces are broadly edged with dark brown, tan to gray on the hind wings. Their ventral wing surfaces (seen when they are resting) are a molting looking brown, with cream at the base of the fore wing.  There is one large eye spot on each hind wing. 

These butterflies like to land on tree trunks, because they blend in and are not very easily seen.  Plus, if they hold still, then you actually think they are starring at you, when they really aren't.  This is why predators will leave them alone. 

Like most tropical butterflies, Owl Butterflies feed on the oozing juice from rotting fruit.  So if you want to attract butterflies on your porch or in your garden.  Leave out pieces of rotten fruit.  They love it!

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