Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567
Doxocopa laure
This record describes Doxocopa laure (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Sexually dimorphic upperwing patterns. Females have a diagonal white slash across both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex; extremely similar to female Pavon Emperor but this species has a broader white stripe with a rounded tip. Male has a stripe across its upperwings but is white only on hindwings, turns yellow on forwings. Underwing pattern is similar to upperwing but less distinct and with a grayish or silvery cast overall.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Apaturinae
- Tribe
- Apaturini
- Genus
- Doxocopa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Panama - Map (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults visit rotting and overripe fruit, sap, animal dung, and carrion. Larvae host on hackberries ( Celtis , Ulmaceae)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Doxocopa laure (Drury, 1773)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Doxocopa laure. 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 Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567
What is Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567?
Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567 (Doxocopa laure) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567?
Sexually dimorphic upperwing patterns. Females have a diagonal white slash across both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex; extremely similar to female Pavon Emperor but this species has a broader white stripe with a rounded tip. Male has a stripe across its upperwings but is white only on hindwings, turns yellow on forwings. Underwing pattern is similar to upperwing but less distinct and with a grayish or silvery cast overall.
Where is Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567 found?
Range: s. TX (as a stray) to Panama - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567 eat?
The diet of the Silver Emperor - Hodges#4567 includes Adults visit rotting and overripe fruit, sap, animal dung, and carrion. Larvae host on hackberries ( Celtis , Ulmaceae).