AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN NEInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Not Evaluated — not yet assessed against the IUCN Red List criteria.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Diaethria astala
Astala Eighty-eight
(Guérin-Méneville, [1844])
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A beautiful small-to-medium butterfly. The dorsal wing surface is dark brown to black with a brilliant, shimmering blue or teal-green band across the forewings and hindwings. The ventral side of the hindwings features a stark white backdrop dramatically marked with black concentric lines outlining a highly clear number '88' or '89', bordered by an outer ring of vibrant scarlet red.
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Anonymous Curator
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Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Arthropoda
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Insecta
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Lepidoptera
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Nymphalidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Diaethria
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Guérin-Méneville, [1844])
Record Completeness
95%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Herbivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Inhabits subtropical and tropical montane forests, moist foothills, cloud forest edges, and riparian corridors. It is mostly found at mid-elevations where its specific host plants thrive, often near fast-flowing rivers or damp paths.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Diurnal. They are highly active during warm, sunny periods. Males engage in extensive mud-puddling on damp roads or near water courses. When settled, they actively pulse their wings, showing flashes of bright blue and detailed number markings.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Solitary in flight, but males show significant social clustering behavior at suitable puddling locations, where small aggregations form side-by-side to absorb essential resources.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Herbivore (Folivore as larvae, Saprophage/Frugivore as adults).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Larvae develop by consuming leaves of Trema micrantha and other species in the Ulmaceae family. Adults sustain themselves by feeding on fermenting fruit, tree sap, damp sand salts, and decomposing matter. Met with predation by forest birds, dragonflies, and hunting spiders.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Males secure territories along sunny river paths or trails to look for females. Courtship is visual and rapid. Post-mating, females systematically examine host trees like Trema to place individual small, pale greenish eggs on the underside of clean leaves.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
4.0 - 5.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
0.08 g - 0.25 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.20 - 60
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
1 - 2 Days
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
4 - 6
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males2 - 4 Weeks
Females2 - 4 Weeks
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
The prominent '88' cryptographic design combined with the flashy scarlet bands on the underside breaks up the insect's outline in mid-flight and functions as a target-decoy mechanism to deflect predator beak strikes away from the vital body core.
Equipped with strong, rapid flight abilities, they can change directions immediately when startled, darting into thick sub-canopy bushes or dense undergrowth to vanish using their cryptic patterns.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Loss of subtropical montane habitats due to coffee cultivation, cattle ranching, and human infrastructure developments, which decimates native Trema and Ulmaceae trees.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Males are highly attracted to human sweat and will fearlessly land on people's hands and arms to absorb moisture and essential mineral salts through their proboscis.