Diaethria anna, commonly known as Anna's Eighty-eight, is a striking butterfly native to Mexico and parts of Central America. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family and is renowned for the bold patterns on the underside of its hindwings, which resemble the number "88." The upper side of its wings is primarily black, accented with iridescent blue or green hues on the forewings. The underside, however, is its most distinctive feature—pale white or cream-colored with bold black markings that form the characteristic "88" pattern. With a wingspan of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm, this butterfly is relatively small but highly recognizable due to its unique wing design.
Diaethria anna thrives in tropical and subtropical forests, often found near rivers, clearings, and shaded pathways. It feeds primarily on rotting fruit, tree sap, and sometimes mineral-rich mud, engaging in puddling behavior to absorb essential nutrients. Males are territorial and can often be seen fluttering energetically around their preferred feeding spots. The species plays an important role in forest ecosystems by aiding in nutrient recycling. Though not currently considered threatened, habitat loss due to deforestation poses potential risks to its populations. Conservation efforts focused on preserving Mexico’s tropical forests are essential to ensuring the continued survival of this visually stunning butterfly.
We firmly support the sustainable tropical butterfly collections as long as they take care of conserving the rainforest where they fly and developing responsible conscious trading.
This allows us to support local ranching farms with ethically sourced material and help at the same time collectors and enthusiasts to contribute to understanding and treasuring those species.
Please consider that the specimen you will receive may slightly differ in size, shape or colour from the picture shown as you are purchasing a natural product.
All our items are carefully delivered to prevent damages on transport, papered items are packaged in glassine envelopes specifying capture/breeding data and location available. CITES certificate will be provided in the specimens required.
HOW WE GRADE OUR LISTINGS (SPECIMENS)
As Insect specimens are natural products, some are bred and some others caught in wild, the quality can vary greatly.
The guide below explains the grading used for specimens in our listings.
A1 No visible imperfections, both antennas, no tearing, scratches or missing part of the wings (or as perfect as you could expect from wild caught specimens), with exception of some leg damage.
A1- Very minor damage, normally restricted to antenna damage or antennae attached separately in the envelope.
A- These specimens have minor damage, such as antenna damage, or minor flight wear such as small scratches, minor sale damage, some minor fraying/chipping around the edges of the wings.
A2 More significant damage, such as major flight wear, small rips, small pieces missing from the wings, damage to the thorax or abdomen.
B or Second Grade These specimens have similar damage to A2 specimens, but to a more significant degree. Usually used as parts replacement or art work material
| SPECIMEN | |
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico |
| Locality | Los Tuxtlas Veracruz |
| Collection type | Wild collected |
| Bio-zone | Neotropical |
We supply both rare and common species from all parts of the world.
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United States, United Kingdom and Mexico
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