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Caligo telamonius memnon
The enormous Owl Butterfly, also called the Giant Owl has a brown underside with false "eye" spots to deter predators. With wings spread open it mimics an owl's face. Native to Mexico.
This owl butterfly resides at the Audubon Society's butterfly garden and insectarium in New Orleans, Louisiana.
5 Comments
Thanks herandezwolf99.
Wow, just amazing!
Thank you Bayucca for your expertise. Appreciate it. Based on the websites you provided, I'm calling it caligo telamonious memnon. Cannot identify it any further than that. The butterfly that I spotted in the garden is so worn and torn. It must be an old butterfly.
Caligo sp. is correct, but I do not think it is Caligo idomeneus, shape and spots are different and the open wing shot has more blue than yours:
http://neotropicalbutterflies.com/Site%2...
From the paler area I would guess Caligo telamonius and Caligo telamonius memnon, often only called Caligo memnon, but yours is too worn to be that sure.
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/caligo_t...
http://neotropicalbutterflies.com/Site%2...
Great images.