Marpesia petreus

(Cramer, 1776)

Ruddy Daggerwing

Marpesia petreus, the Ruddy Daggerwing, is a striking Neotropical in the Nymphalidae. It ranges from Brazil northward through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida, with occasional strays reaching as far north as Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and southern Texas. The is known for engaging in a distinctive called 'pumping,' where butterflies rapidly imbibe water through their and expel it from the , possibly for . are frequently observed puddling on beaches and riverbanks to obtain dissolved minerals.

Marpesia petreus verso 4 by LOPEZ André. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Marpesia petreus recto 2 by LOPEZ André. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Marpesia petreus 2zz by Photo by David J. Stang. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Marpesia petreus: //mɑrˈpe.si.ə ˈpe.tri.əs//

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Images

Distribution

Found from Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida. Strays recorded as far north as Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and southern Texas.

Behavior

engage in 'pumping,' a poorly understood where water is rapidly consumed through the and expelled from the approximately every five seconds. This behavior has been observed on beaches and riverbanks, and may function in by allowing rapid warming or cooling depending on the temperature differential between ambient air and soil water. Adults also 'puddle' in muddy soil to gather dissolved minerals and nutrients.

Sources and further reading