by Steven J. Cary
The Brushfoots (Nymphalidae). This family is our second richest in terms of number of species and perhaps the most variable in terms of sizes, colors, patterns and behaviors. Despite the obvious differences in wing morphology, members all share a unifying structural character: on adults, the forelegs are reduced to tiny, brush-like structures, leaving only four functional legs. Many of our most familiar butterflies are members of this family. Pursuant to Pelham’s (2019) catalog, we have ~100 species in ten subfamilies.
Leafwings (Nymphalidae: Charaxinae). The Leafwings are abundant and widespread in tropical latitudes, but we have only two species in New Mexico. Adults are brightly colored dorsally, but excellent dead-leaf mimics when wings are closed. Adults are strong, agile flyers. Larvae eat Euphorbiaceae.
- Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea)
- Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria)
Anaea aidea (Guérin-Méneville [1844]) Tropical Leafwing (updated May 26, 2022)
Description. Anaea aidea is dark orange above. Males have a darker wing border and a forewing cell-end bar. Female uppersides have a dorsal hindwing marginal band of light spots and the postmedian dorsal forewing band is light orange. Hindwings sports a stubby tail. Undersides resemble dead leaves. Range and Habitat. Tropical Leafwing inhabits subtropical woodlands in the Caribbean and Mexico. Its range includes the extreme southern US. It is typically a stray in southern New Mexico (counties: Be,Ch,DA,Ed,Hi,Lu,Ro,Si), although it often breeds here seasonally below 5000′ elevation. Life History. Larvae eat Euphorbiaceae, chiefly Croton species. Flight. Tropical Leafwings are multivoltine where climate allows. New Mexico records begin May 26 and linger to December 13. Adults perch in and patrol around deciduous trees in desert oases, stopping to feed at tree sap. Anaea aidea sometimes wanders north. Comments. Kilian Roever once suggested that Anaea aidea had a breeding colony in Guadalupe Canyon (Hi) until a flood eliminated the larval host. Recent and repeated observations in Dona Ana County combined with solo sightings north as far as Sierra and Bernalillo counties suggest that breeding may now be more of a routine phenomenon in extreme south-central New Mexico.
Anaea andria Scudder 1875 Goatweed Leafwing (updated Novtember 16, 2021)
Description. Goatweed Leafwing males are vivid, spotless orange above. Female uppersides have a cell-end black spot and a banded appearance. Undersides resemble dead leaves. Range and Habitat. Goatweed Leafwings live from Colorado to Indiana, south to Florida and Arizona, then south well into the Neotropics. In New Mexico it occurs statewide but for our northwest quadrant (all counties but Ci,LA,MK,RA,SJ) preferring Upper Sonoran scrubby canyons from 4000 to 7500′ elevation. Life History. Larvae eat crotons (Euphorbiaceae). Scott (1992) found an empty larval nest and adults on Croton texensis near Mangas Springs (Gr) and that is presumed to be the primary host for Goatweed Leafwing in New Mexico. Adults overwinter. Flight. Anaea andria has two to three flights in New Mexico spanning March 3 to October 23. The summer brood flies June to August. Their young fly September to October, hibernate through winter, then fly and mate from March to May. Adults are very tree-oriented; they siphon tree sap and perch in trees to emulate dead leaves. Comments. Anaea andria was first reported from New Mexico when Harry Kendon Clench found it at Sitting Bull Falls (Ed) on 12 September 1960.
