Dusky owl-butterfly
The dusky owl-butterfly is a giant butterfly from the rainforests of Central and South America. On top its wings shine blue or purple. Underneath they are dull brown with two huge spots that look just like the eyes of an owl.
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Fun facts
Its wings are 12 to 15 centimetres across, wider than a grown-up's hand.
When it closes its wings, the dull brown underside helps it hide among the leaves.
It likes to fly at dusk, when the light is fading.
Its caterpillars grow up to 12 centimetres long, almost as long as the butterfly is wide.
So many caterpillars can feed on banana plants that they damage large banana farms.
Most asked questions about Dusky owl-butterfly
?Why is it called an owl butterfly?
Because the big spots under its wings look like the eyes of an owl.
?How big is the dusky owl-butterfly?
Very big. Its wings are 12 to 15 centimetres across.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Caligo illioneus
- Group
- Butterflies
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Lepidoptera > Nymphalidae
- Lives on
- North America, South America
- Also known as
- Illioneus giant owl
Where the facts come from
- Caligo illioneus (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Hectonichus. CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.
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