FWS Focus
Overview
The Florida leafwing is a medium-sized butterfly approximately 2.75 to 3 inches (in) (76 to 78 millimeters (mm)) in length. The upper-wing (or open wing) surface color is red to red-brown, the underside (closed wings) is gray to tan, with a tapered outline, cryptically looking like a dead leaf when the butterfly is at rest. The Florida leafwing exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly larger and with darker coloring along the wing margins than the males. The Florida leafwing occurs only within pine rocklands that retain its hostplant, pineland croton. Pineland croton, a subtropical species of Antillean origin, is the only known host plant for the leafwing. Therefore, the leafwing is restricted to pine rocklands that contain pineland croton.
Scientific Name
Anaea troglodyta floridalis
Common Name
Florida leafwing Butterfly
FWS Category
Insects
Identification Numbers
Timeline
Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.
19 Items