Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Elf Butterfly (Microtia elva)

-Microtia elva ssp. elva

Microtia elva, commonly known as the Elf Butterfly, is a small brush-footed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae and the only species in its genus. It is characterized by dark brown to black wings marked with distinct orange patches. The wing shape is slightly elongated, and the underside is more muted and mottled, providing camouflage when the butterfly rests. This species occurs in Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America, where it inhabits open tropical habitats and forest edges. Adults exhibit a slow, patrolling flight, and males are often territorial.

Diet

The caterpillars feed on plants in the acanthus family (Acanthaceae), particularly Tetramerium and Ruellia.
Adults feed on flower nectar.

Range

Microtia elva occurs from Mexico through Central America to northern South America, with its principal range extending into Venezuela.
In Mexico, it occurs in tropical regions including Guerrero and is found in the Zihua area.
The species was originally described from Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Habitat

The Elf is associated with open, seasonally dry tropical habitats, including fields, clearings, scrub and early-successional vegetation.
It is often found where its Acanthaceae host plants grow, particularly in sunny openings and along the edges of secondary vegetation.
Males patrol slowly through suitable habitat during the day while searching for females.

Description

Microtia elva is a small butterfly with a wingspan of approximately 25–37 mm.
The wings are predominantly black. The forewing has two large yellow-orange patches, while the hindwing has a single prominent orange-yellow patch.
The elongated, rounded forewings and simple black-and-orange pattern give it a distinctive appearance among the small Nymphalinae.
Microtia is a monotypic genus, meaning that M. elva is its only currently recognized species.