Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Huge
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Social: Solitary
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Central and South America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

One of the largest butterflies in the world, the Giant Owl dazzles with enormous eyespot patterns on its underwings that mimic an owl's face — a startling disguise that deters predators. It thrives in the rainforests of Mexico and Central America, where adults feed on rotting fruit rather than nectar.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A tiny ribbed egg laid on the underside of a host-plant leaf, hatching within days.
2.
caterpillar
A voracious caterpillar feeds and molts through several instars, growing rapidly.
3.
chrysalis
A chrysalis hangs sealed and still while the body remodels into a winged adult.
4.
butterfly
A winged adult with full scales and coloration, ready to fly and mate.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Caligo
Species: Caligo telamonius