Common Banner Nymphalid

Description:

This is the female of the species and it flew into the restaurant of the Hotel Posada Loma, which has extensive gardens, Fortin de Las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico.

Notes:

The eggs are laid singly under mature host plant leaves. Caterpillars rest on a platform made of a leaf vein with dung and silk attached to it. Caterpillars strike with their horns when disturbed, and can puncture another caterpillar. Chrysalids when disturbed can move the abdomen to make creaking sounds. They can be found all year in Mexico, and occasionally in South Texas in October. Caterpillar Hosts include the vines in the soapberry (Family Sapindaceae, which includes the urticating Velvet Beans).