Nicaraguan Emperor

Male Nicaraguan Emperor | Doxocopa callianira | Photos © Florida Museum, by Ryan G. Fessenden

Female Nicaraguan Emperor butterfly with open wings. Butterfly is reddish brown with rows of cream colored spots.

Female Nicaraguan Emperor | Doxocopa callianira | Photos © Florida Museum, by Ryan G. Fessenden

Female Nicaraguan Emperor butterfly with closed wings. Butterfly is tan with mottled brown spots with rows of cream colored markings.

Female Nicaraguan Emperor | Doxocopa callianira | Photos © Florida Museum, by Ryan G. Fessenden

Male Nicaraguan Emperor butterfly with open wings. Butterfly is a deep blue with large black tips. The black tips have small white dots. Small orange dots run in a long along the lower wing.

Common Name: Nicaraguan Emperor
Scientific Name: Doxocopa callianira
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Apaturinae
Wingspan: 2.0 to 2.5 in
Place of origin: Central America

Butterflies in the exhibit are raised on butterfly farms around the world. This form of sustainable agriculture helps protect natural forest habitats from destruction and promote local economic growth.

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