Diet

• The caterpillar feeds on plants in the laurel family (Lauraceae).

• Adults are attracted to fermenting fruit, tree sap and other decomposing organic material, as is typical of many fruit-feeding Charaxinae.

Range

• Memphis forreri occurs from Mexico through Central America to Costa Rica.

• In Mexico it occurs along both tropical Pacific and Gulf-Caribbean regions, including Guerrero. It is occasionally sighted in the Zihua area.

• It is generally associated with warm tropical regions and is particularly characteristic of forested areas.

Habitat

• Forrer's Leafwing inhabits tropical forest, woodland, forest edges and areas of secondary vegetation.

• Although it can occur in relatively undisturbed forest, it also uses secondary vegetation and forest mosaics. Studies in tropical Mexico have found it associated with areas of regenerating vegetation.

• Adults are often encountered close to the ground or among vegetation, where their dead-leaf camouflage makes them extremely difficult to notice when the wings are closed.

Description

• Memphis forreri is a medium-sized leafwing with strongly angular forewings. The forewing has a humped leading edge, a deeply concave outer margin and a distinctive hooked inner angle.

• The upper surface is dark brown to violet-brown, with a paler basal area and a conspicuous metallic blue to violet-blue band across the outer portion of the forewing.

• The female can have a more prominent hindwing tail, while males generally have shorter or virtually absent tails.

• The underside is predominantly brown and intricately mottled with grey and darker brown markings. It closely resembles a dried leaf, including the irregular colouration and subdued patterning characteristic of the genus.

• When resting with the wings closed, the butterfly's angular outline and cryptic underside make it remarkably difficult to distinguish from surrounding dead foliage.