Hypna

Distinguished from other leafwing butterflies (Anaeini) by its larger size. The combination of black forewings with two broad white transverse bands and brown hindwings separates it from similar genera. The dead-leaf undersides are highly variable in tone but consistently leaf-shaped with detailed venation patterns.

Large butterfly with forewing uppersides black with white marginal spots and two prominent white transverse bands. Hindwing uppersides predominantly brown. Undersides vary from dark brown to whitish, closely resembling dead leaves.

Lowland and foothill forests from 100–1,200 meters elevation. Occurs in tropical and subtropical forested environments.

Mexico to the Amazon basin, including Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean (Cuba). Specific subspecies occur in: Nicaragua to Brazil and Suriname; Peru, Bolivia, Panama; Venezuela, Colombia; Mexico (Oaxaca); Brazil (Pernambuco, Mato Grosso); and Cuba.

Larvae feed on Croton floribundus (Euphorbiaceae). Adults feed on rotting fruits.

• Croton floribundus - larval host plantFamily Euphorbiaceae

Adults are known to visit rotting fruit. The cryptic underside coloration suggests roosting behavior that relies on camouflage against dead leaf litter.

Adults may contribute to nutrient cycling through consumption of decaying fruit. Larval herbivory on Croton floribundus represents a specialized plant-insect association.

Featured on a Cuban postage stamp with face value of 13 centavos. Collected for scientific study and observation; uncommon in nature and not frequently encountered.

• Other Anaeini genera (e.g., Anaea, Memphis)Share leafwing morphology and dead-leaf mimicry, but Hypna clytemnestra is notably larger and has distinctive black-and-white forewing pattern above

• monotypic genus
• leaf mimicry
• fruit-feeding
• Neotropical
• Charaxinae

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life