Glass entomological box (26x33x6 cm), wooden frame in perfect condition, containing two very large specimens of butterflies, belonging to the species Caligo brasiliensis. Caligo is a genus of Lepidoptera in the Nymphalidae family and the Morphinae subfamily, of which some twenty species are known, all represented on the American continent, mainly in the tropical and secondary forests of Mexico, Central and South America. These very large butterflies are commonly called "owl butterflies" after the large eye-spots on the underside of their hind wings, reminiscent of owl eyes, which are supposed to frighten off their predators when they are at rest with their wings folded. Here we present a huge Caligo brasiliensis, ventral side up, clearly showing the large eye-spots, and seen from above below.
These diurnal butterflies have one of the largest known feeding surfaces.
The box and butterflies are in perfect condition.