Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima)

-Anartia fatima ssp. colima

The Anartia Fatima, also known as the Banded Peacock, is a medium-sized butterfly found in the Caribbean and Central and South America. It is commonly found in open meadows and woodland edges. Its larvae feed on plants in the family Acanthaceae, while adults primarily feed on flower nectar from Acanthusspecies. From late morning until early afternoon, males perch on low vegetation and chase other male butterflies away from their territory.

Diet

Adults: Feed primarily on flower nectar, visiting a variety of flowering plants. They may also take moisture and minerals from damp soil and other moist surfaces.
Caterpillars: Feed primarily on plants in the Acanthaceae (acanthus family).

Range

The Banded Peacock is widespread from Mexico through Central America to Panama, with occasional individuals reaching southern Texas.
Around Zihua, Anartia fatima colima would likely be considered common to locally abundant, particularly in open and disturbed areas with suitable host plants. Records from Guerrero have been assigned to the subspecies A.f. colima.

Habitat

The Banded Peacock favors subtropical open areas, fields, weedy places, orchards, second-growth vegetation and forest edges. It can also occur along rivers and in more extensive forest where suitable openings and host plants are present.
Around Zihua, suitable habitat includes tropical deciduous forest, forest edges, roadside vegetation, gardens, agricultural areas, stream corridors and disturbed open areas.
The species is particularly well suited to habitats where Acanthaceae plants grow in sunny, relatively open conditions.

Size

Anartia fatima is a medium-sized brush-footed butterfly, with a wingspan of approximately 60–70 mm.
The wings are predominantly brown, with prominent cream to white median and submarginal bands.
The hindwings have a broken reddish-orange median band, while the underside is more intricately patterned and cryptic.