Owl Butterfly

In their natural habitats you can find owl butterflies ranging from Mexico to the Amazon basin. They are found in the understory of rainforests and also in secondary forest regions. Owl butterflies are crepuscular butterflies which means they are most active at dawn and dusk.


Owl Butterflies by mbgphoto

This photo shows a Forest Giant Owl with it's wings spread open. The proper name is Caligo eurilochus. The butterfly was named for Eurylochus, the second-in-command to Odysseus during the return to Ithaca folowing the Trojan war.

Although on the outside this butterfly will look very similar to other owl butterflies when it's wings are open you will see that both the forewings and hindwings are iridescent blue with dark edges.


Forest Giant Owl Butterfly by mbgphoto

Blue Owl Butterfly by Butterflyblitz

This owl butterfly was named for Memnon, a Greek warrior and Ethiopian King. You will note that when the wings are open the forewings are a pale gold color with a dark band near the edge and the hindwings are a deep blue color.

The Magnificent Owl is name for Atreus, the mythological king of Mycene. Of the three species at The Butterfly House this one is the most impressive. The undersides of its wings are bright and striking, with a distinct gold edging to the hindwing. The upper sides of the fore-wings have bright bluish purple bands.

I found this beautiful owl on a tree with it's wings extended so I could see the beautiful colors! What a contrast to the outside of the wings that you see in the photo above this one.

Here you can see two owl butterflies side by side. One with it's wings closed and one with the wings open.

I captured this owl butterfly perched on a group of orchids that were sitting on a bench waiting to be planted at The Butterfly House.

The butterflies enjoy feasting on very ripe bananas. You will notice several owl butterflies at this feeder, however the one on the far left that has several spots is not an owl butterfly. It is actually a blue morpho and with it's wings closed is often mistaken for an owl butterfly because of the spots.

Owl Butterfly on Tree by mbgphoto
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