LepidopteraNymphalidae – Brush-footed Butterflies

Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555

Fountainea glycerium

This record describes Fountainea glycerium (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - Fountainea glycerium
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson

Somewhat similar in color to Tropical and Goatweed Leafwings, but distinctively shaped.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Papilionoidea
Family
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Subfamily
Charaxinae
Tribe
Anaeini
Genus
Fountainea (Leafwings)

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Mexico through northern South America, with rare strays to south Texas

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval host is Croton jalapensis . Adults in the US are most often seen at feeding stations baited with overripe fruit.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fountainea glycerium. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 (5)

Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - photo 1
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - photo 2
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - photo 3
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - photo 4
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 - photo 5
Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson

Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson

Frequently Asked Questions About Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555

What is Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555?

Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 (Fountainea glycerium) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How do you identify Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555?

Somewhat similar in color to Tropical and Goatweed Leafwings, but distinctively shaped.

Where is Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 found?

Range: Mexico through northern South America, with rare strays to south Texas

What does Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 eat?

The diet of the Angled Leafwing - Hodges#4555 includes Larval host is Croton jalapensis . Adults in the US are most often seen at feeding stations baited with overripe fruit..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.