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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)

-Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

-Hairstreaks (Subfamily Theclinae)

-Tribe Eumaeini

-Subtribe Strymonina

-Genus Panthiades

-Zebra-striped Hairstreak (Panthiades bathildis)


Panthiades bathildis, commonly known as the Zebra-striped Hairstreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is one of the more distinctive hairstreaks due to its boldly striped underside. The underside is striking, marked with sharp black-and-white zebra-like stripes, along with small tail-like projections on the hindwings. Near the tails are eyespots, forming a classic “false head” pattern that helps deflect predator attacks. This species is found in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, inhabiting forest edges, clearings, and tropical vegetation. Adults are often seen perching with wings closed, displaying the striped underside, and may occasionally visit flowers or feed on moisture.

Diet

  • Caterpillars feed on plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) and may also use plants in the Malpighiaceae.

  • Adults visit flowers for nectar and may also take moisture and minerals from damp ground.

Range

  • Panthiades bathildis ranges from Mexico through Central America to northern and western South America, extending as far south as Peru and Brazil.

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

Habitat

  • It inhabits tropical and subtropical forest, woodland edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.

  • It is particularly associated with warm forest margins and sunny openings where flowering plants are abundant.

  • In Mexico it occurs from lowland areas into foothill and lower montane habitats.

Description

  • A small hairstreak in the family Lycaenidae, subfamily Theclinae, with a wingspan of approximately 30–35 mm.

  • The upper surface is dark brown to blackish, with contrasting pale blue to bluish-white markings.

  • The underside is brown to grey-brown and marked with numerous narrow, pale transverse lines, producing the characteristic zebra-striped appearance.

  • The hindwings have short tails and a conspicuous pattern of pale lines and dark spots near the anal angle.

  • The combination of the striped underside, dark upper surface and blue markings distinguishes it from many other similarly sized tropical hairstreaks.

Zebra-striped Hairstreak

Panthiades bathildis

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