Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552
Anaea aidea
This record describes Anaea aidea (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to A. andria , except with distinct tooth on hind wing margin between tail and annal (lower/inner) angle. Males are usually more strongly patterned with dark on upper side than are males of A. andria .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Charaxinae
- Tribe
- Anaeini
- Genus
- Anaea (Leafwings)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ to c. TX / Mex to C. Amer. - MPG, BOA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: goatweed - Croton spp. (Euphorbiaceae) - BOA
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anaea aidea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552
What is Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552?
Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552 (Anaea aidea) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552?
Similar to A. andria , except with distinct tooth on hind wing margin between tail and annal (lower/inner) angle. Males are usually more strongly patterned with dark on upper side than are males of A. andria .
Where is Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552 found?
Range: AZ to c. TX / Mex to C. Amer. - MPG, BOA
What does Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552 eat?
The diet of the Tropical Leafwing - Hodges#4552 includes goatweed - Croton spp. (Euphorbiaceae) - BOA.