| Mermeria Wood-nymph (Taygetis mermeria) (Cramer, 1776) |
| Synonyms: Papilio mermeria, Faunus tenebrosus, Taygetis excavata, Giant Satyr |
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Taygetis mermeria is found in the tropical Americas from Mexico (Nayarit and Veracruz) to Bolivia and southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro); 3 subspecies. It inhabits understorey of primary and secondary rainforests, cloud forests, and gallery forests, from sea level to 1,800 m. T. mermeria is a large satyr with the wingspan ca. 10-11 cm. The wet season morph is dark brown and olive, while the dry season form is pale reddish-brown; both have prominent ocelli on the underside. This butterfly usually flies in the mornings, and rarely more than 2-3 m at a time. At other times it remains on the forest floor blending perfectly among the dry leaves. Adults obtain nutrients from rotting fruits, and bird-droppings. The caterpillars apparently feed on grasses or bamboos.
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