Appearance
"Caligo illioneus" has a wingspan reaching about 12–15 centimetres. In this large owl butterfly the dorsal sides of the wings vary from light brilliant blue to purplish with dark brown edges, while the undersides have a highly cryptic dull brown color, with huge yellow-rimmed eyespots resembling to the eyes of an owl.In the early stage the caterpillars are greenish with yellow stripes along the body, about 10 centimetres long. Later they are light brown with dark brown longitudinal stripes, about 12 centimetres long. The caterpillars grow on banana plants, causing the destruction of large areas of banana plantations, while the adults mainly feed on the juices of fermenting fruits.
Naming
The genus Latin name "Caligo" means "darkness" and may possibly refer to the active periods, as these butterflies preferentially fly in dusk. The species name "Illioneus" derives from "Ilionesus", a Trojan survivor companion of Aeneas in the Latin epic poem Aeneid, written by Virgil.*"Caligo illioneus illioneus"⤷ "Caligo illioneus oberon" Butler, 1870
⤷ "Caligo illioneus pampeiro" Fruhstorfer, 1904
⤷ "Caligo illioneus pheidriades" Fruhstorfer, 1912
⤷ "Caligo illioneus praxsiodus" Fruhstorfer, 1912
Distribution
The species is native to Costa Rica and it is widespread in most of South America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
Habitat
This owl butterfly lives in South American rainforests and secondary forests.References:
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