Butterflies

Caption

Mexican bluewing butterflies are found from Colombia, up into Mexico and Texas' most southern border. These brilliant butterflies are also found on the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo: Mexican blue-wing / Dave Hansen ©

Malachite butterflies are well camouflaged in the riparian forest of the refuge. A great time to see these butterflies is in October.

Photo: Malachite / Marvin DeJong

When the guava skipper first hatches, it will often continue to feed on the shell of its former egg. Guinea grass, an introduced invasive species, is displacing native grasses that are host plants of this and other types of skippers.

Photo: Guava skipper / Dave Hansen ©

The zebra longwing eats the leaves of passion flowers, which contains a toxin. For predators of the butterfly, this can be poisonous and it has an unpleasant taste.

Photo: Zebra longwing / Marvin DeJong

Young caterpillars of the red admiral live within a shelter of folded leaves, which they eat. Once older, the caterpillar will make a nest of leaves that it has tied together with silk.

Photo: Red admiral / Marvin DeJong

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Birds A gallery of images of birds found on the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (1.2 MB)
Butterflies A gallery of images of the butterflies found on the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Last Updated: Apr 06, 2012

What We Do

Leopardus pardalis

The ocelot is a small, spotted cat with a long tail. Visitors often confuse this wild cat with another commonly seen on the refuge -- the bobcat. The ocelot's range in the United States used to extend from South Texas up into Arkansas and Louisiana. Today, it is only found in the most southern tip of Texas where it is highly endangered due to loss of habitat.

Learn more

Santa AnaNational Wildlife Refuge | Texas

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What We Do

Leopardus pardalis

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuge System

Department of the Interior

USA.gov