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Also known as the Orange Oak Leaf or The Dead Leaf Butterfly
With its wings closed, this butterfly closely resembles a dry leaf with dark veins and is a spectacular and commonly cited example of camouflage.There are dark dots or patches which look like the effects of fungi and lichen, which are so common on dead leaves.
The camouflage is perfected by the rear wings, which have a little 'tail', which looks like the stalk of a leaf. When at rest in the closed position, the 'tail' touches the branch, completing the illusion.
In the wet season morph, the upper surfaces of the wings are quite striking. The coloration of the upper wings of the dry season morph, by contrast, is quite dull and muted.
Male and female Leaf butterflies are very similar, although the female is larger.
Also, the ventral side of the wings of the females may have a redder hue than those of the male.
Avg. Wingspan: 85 - 110 mm / 3.3 - 4.3 "
Avg. Body Length: 4 cm / 1.57"
Diet: caterpillars are polyphagous, feeding on plants from many families.
Diet: adults prefer sweets, dining on an occasional flower, but preferring to stay near the forest floor to eat rotten fruit.
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera
* Being Brush-footed butterflies, Leafs have a short pair of fore legs that are used to taste food, and two pairs of longer rear legs that are used for propulsion.
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
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