11-27-13, dorsum. Falcon Heights, TX.
©Berry Nall or as stated

Tropical Leafwings are very common in Starr County. They readily come to rotten fruit and other butterfly bait. In the fall of 2005, Leafwings and Emperors gathered in large numbers on mesquite trees where the sap was leaking. I have not seen this happen since.

Tropical Leafwings can be distinguished from Goatweed Leafwings by the extra "tooth" between the tail and the bottom of the hind wing, and the presence of two small black dots near the tail and tooth (Goatweed Leafwings have only one).

Life History of Tropical Leafwing

Host plants recorded
in Texas' lower Rio Grande Valley:

  • Low Croton, Croton humilis
  • Mexican Croton, Croton ciliatoglandulifer
  • Twocolor Croton, Croton leucophyllus
Sightings by Month
 
 
#
 
Y
e
a
r
s
 
10
8
6
4
2
0
(in Starr Co, 2010-2019)
  • 1
  • *
  • 2
  • *
  • 2
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • 1
  • *
  • 1
  • 2
  • *
 
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Month
Per month: 
1 seen
 
2 seen
 
>2 seen

Explanation of sightings data