Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566
Doxocopa pavon
This record describes Doxocopa pavon (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females are brown with a diagonal white slash across the upperside of both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex. Males have a similar pattern but with a metallic purplish-blue overlay that ranges from brilliant to subtle. Slash also shows on underwings but is pale brown and less distinct.
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
Habitat
tropical and subtropical forests
Geographic Range
Bolivia north to northern Mexico, with rare strays into the US in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Seasonal Activity
August through December; also May
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults eat some flower nectar but also come to rotting fruit and animal dung. Caterpillars eat foliage of hackberries and sugarberries (genus Celtis, family Ulmaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Doxocopa pavon. 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 Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566
What is Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566?
Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 (Doxocopa pavon) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566?
Females are brown with a diagonal white slash across the upperside of both wings, and a yellow spot near the forewing apex. Males have a similar pattern but with a metallic purplish-blue overlay that ranges from brilliant to subtle. Slash also shows on underwings but is pale brown and less distinct.
Where is Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | tropical and subtropical forests |
| Range | Bolivia north to northern Mexico, with rare strays into the US in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas |
What does Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 eat?
The diet of the Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 includes Adults eat some flower nectar but also come to rotting fruit and animal dung. Caterpillars eat foliage of hackberries and sugarberries (genus Celtis, family Ulmaceae)..
When is Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566 active?
Pavon Emperor - Hodges#4566: seasonal activity - August through December; also May.