• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

• Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

• Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

• Tropical Brushfoots (Subfamily Biblidinae)

• Tribe Cyrestini

• Genus Marpesia

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Commonly known as the daggerwings, species of Marpesia are distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, and Central America. They are easily recognized by their distinctive wing shape, particularly the elongated, tail-like extensions of the hindwings that resemble daggers. The upper wing surfaces often display combinations of orange, white, cream, brown, or black, while the undersides are typically mottled and cryptic, helping them blend into bark, leaves, or other natural backgrounds when resting. Marpesia butterflies are strong, swift fliers that are frequently encountered along forest edges, woodland trails, riverbanks, and sunny clearings. Adults commonly feed on fermenting fruit, tree sap, carrion, and mineral-rich mud, although some species also visit flowers for nectar. Males are often territorial and may perch in sunlit locations waiting for passing females.