Diet

• Caterpillars feed primarily on vines in the family Sapindaceae.

• Adults are attracted to damp ground and mineral-rich moisture, where males commonly take up dissolved salts and minerals.

Range

• Nica flavilla ranges from Mexico through Central America and into northern and western South America.

• It occurs in Guerrero and is found in the Zihua area.

Habitat

• Primarily associated with humid tropical and seasonally humid forest.

• It is found along forest edges, riverbanks, trails, roadsides, and openings where sunlight reaches the forest floor.

• It generally occurs from sea level to about 1,500 metres, although it is more frequently encountered below 800 metres.

Description

• A small member of the brush-footed butterfly family, with a wingspan of approximately 38–41 mm.

• The upper wings are predominantly orange-brown to brown, with darker margins and contrasting pale markings.

• The underside is particularly distinctive, with silvery-white markings and small rounded spots that give the species a characteristic appearance.

• Males are often encountered singly, resting with their wings closed beneath leaves or basking along sunny forest edges.

• The genus Nica contains only this species, making Nica flavilla a monotypic genus.