Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Large
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Australasia
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Warning Colors
Status: Rare

About

Taenaris butterflies, commonly known as the owl butterflies, are nocturnal insectivorous butterflies that are most often found on the island of New Guinea. Their large eyespots mimic the eyes of an owl, which they use to scare away predators.

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: Taenaris