Diet

• Caterpillars feed on a remarkably broad range of plants.

• Documented hosts include legumes (Fabaceae), Malpighiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Combretaceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Ochnaceae, Proteaceae, Sapindaceae and Verbenaceae.

• Larvae may feed on flower buds, flowers and young fruit rather than only foliage.

• Adults feed primarily on flower nectar.

Range

• Rekoa marius ranges from Sonora and other parts of Mexico south through Central America and into northern and central South America, reaching Paraguay, southeastern Brazil and Bolivia.

• Guerrero is within its range, and it occurs in the Zihua area.

Habitat

• It is associated with disturbed tropical habitats, forest edges, clearings, secondary vegetation, gardens and roadsides.

• It is particularly well suited to habitats containing flowering shrubs, vines and small trees that provide larval food plants.

• In the Zihua area it can occur in relatively open tropical vegetation as well as along forest margins.

Description

• A small hairstreak with a wingspan of approximately 22–32 mm.

• Males have a dark, iridescent blue upper surface that can appear almost black in shaded light.

• Females are generally grey or grey-brown above and lack the extensive blue colouration of males.

• The hindwing has a conspicuous orange eyespot near the tail, accompanied by contrasting dark and pale markings.

• The underside is cryptically patterned in grey, brown and pale tones, helping the butterfly blend into foliage when the wings are closed.

• The combination of the male's deep blue upper surface and the orange hindwing eyespot is particularly useful for identification.

• Larval biology is unusually diverse: caterpillars have been observed feeding on floral buds and developing fruit as well as other plant tissues, and interactions with ants have been reported during larval development.