Zoom detail of Caligo atreus from Lepidoptera order and Nymphalidae family from Brassolinae subcategory. An owl butterfly is a butterfly, in the genus Caligo, known for their huge eyespots, which resemble owls' eyes. They are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central, and South America. Owl butterflies are very large, 65ââ¬â200 mm (2.6ââ¬â7.9 in), and fly only a few meters at a time, so avian predators have little difficulty in following them to their settling place. However, the butterflies preferentially fly in dusk, when few avian predators are around. The Latin name may possibly refer to their active periods. Caligo means darkness. Some owl butterflies form leks in mating behavior.
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