top of page

Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

-Leafwing Butterflies (Subfamily Charaxinae)

-Tribe Preponini

-Genus Archaeoprepona

-One-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona demophon)

-Archaeoprepona demophon ssp. occidentalis


Archaeoprepona demophon, commonly known as the one-spotted prepona, is a butterfly species in the family Nymphalidae, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. It is known for its powerful, fast flight and vivid coloration, with the upper sides of its wings displaying a deep, iridescent blue or blue-green band set against a dark brown or black background, while the undersides are mottled in earthy tones for camouflage. The species typically inhabits dense, humid forests where it feeds on fermenting fruit, tree sap, and occasionally animal dung, rather than nectar.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed primarily on rotting fruit, especially overripe or fermenting fruit, and may also visit animal dung and tree sap. They are much more likely to be encountered at these resources than visiting flowers.

  • Caterpillars: Feed on a variety of woody plants. Documented host genera include Annona, Malpighia, Persea, Nectandra, Ocotea, Siparuna, Theobroma and several others.

Range

  • Archaeoprepona demophon is widely distributed from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean into northern South America. Several geographically distinct subspecies occur across this range.

  • Around Zihua, Archaeoprepona demophon would likely be considered occasional to locally common, especially in larger patches of mature tropical forest and along forest edges.

Habitat

  • Found primarily in tropical forest, semideciduous forest, forest edges and second-growth woodland.

  • Mexican populations have been recorded from lower cloud forest and semideciduous to semievergreen tropical forest, frequently associated with riparian vegetation.

  • Around Zihua, look for it in mature dry forest, forest edges, arroyos and areas containing fruiting trees, particularly where fallen or fermenting fruit is available.

Size

  • Approximately 54–58 mm wingspan.


One-spotted Prepona

Archaeoprepona demophon

bottom of page