White-crescent Longtail (Codatractus alcaeus [Hewitson])
Wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/4 inches (4.2 - 5.7 cm).
Identification: Tailed. Upperside is dark brown; forewing has median band of gold spots. Underside of hindwing is brown with 3 incomplete bands of dark spots and a white patch at the lower part of the wing.
Life history: Caterpillars live in leaf shelters and feed on leaves.
Flight: Many flights from April-October in Mexico; June and October in South Texas.
Caterpillar hosts: Tree legumes Amerimnon and Ichthyomethia.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical woodlands.
Range: Panama north through Mexico. A rare stray to west Texas and the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
