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Project Noah Nature School
Doxocopa pavon
This male Pavon emperor was a rare find as they are only "strays" in the LRGV. They are sexually dimorphic with males having a metallic purplish-blue overlay. This one was attracted to the fruit on this plant. The underside is seen in pic 3. Wingspans between 5.6 to 6.9 cm (2.2 to 2.7 in).
Spotted at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas.
From BugGuide: Ranges from Bolivia north to northern Mexico, with rare strays into the US in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Adults eat some flower nectar but also come to rotting fruit and animal dung. Caterpillars eat foliage of hackberries and sugarberries (genus Celtis, family Ulmaceae).
Spotted on Nov 15, 2020
Submitted on Dec 1, 2020
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