Opsiphanes cassina C. Felder & R. Felder, 1862

Common Name:
Split-banded Owlet
Natural History:

Opsiphanes cassina rarely occurs in primary forest in central Amazonia, where males and females can be caught in traps, in the canopy and shaded understory. 

In other environments can be  Opsiphanes cassina can be pest. The herbivory by caterpillars of this species, causes economic damage in agriculture (Aldana et al. 1999).

Distribution:
Belize; Brasil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Panamá; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela
Feeding Adult:

Adults feed on rotten fruits

Feeding Caterpillars:

Host-plants compiled by Beccaloni et al. (2008) include:

Agavaceae: Cordyline fruticosa

Cannaceae: Canna indica

Lecythidaceae: Couroupita guianensis, Gustavia augusta

Musaceae: Musa spp.

Palmae: Acrocomia aculeata, Acrocomia sclerocarpa, Acrocomia vinifera, Bactris gasipaes, Bactris guineensis, Bactris major, Brahea salvadorensis, Chamaedorea costaricana, Cocos sp., Cocos nucifera, Copernicia tectorum, Dypsis lutescens, Elaeis guineensis, Livistona chinensis, Mauritia flexuosa, Orbignya cohume, Phoenix dactylifera, Prichardia pacifica, Roystonea oleracea, Roystonea regia, Sabal mauritiiformis, Veitchia merrillii, Washingtonia filifera. 

Many unidentified species of Palmae in several countries.

Color:
brown, orange
Habitat:
forest, anthropogenic
Publications:
Beccaloni G.W, Viloria A.L., Hall S.K., Robinson G.S. (2008):
Catalogue of the hostplants of the Neotropical butterflies. Book., London, S.E.A., Ribes, CYTED, Natural History Museum, IVIC: 1-536
Aldana J.A., Fajardo J., Guerrero H.C. (1999):
Evaluación de dos diseños de trampas para la captura de adultos de Opsiphanes cassina Felder (Lepidoptera: Brassolidae) en una plantación de palma de aceite. Palmas. 20(2): 23-29
opsiphanes cassina male dorsal

Male, from dorsal

Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas

opsiphanes cassina male ventral

Male, from ventral

Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas

opsiphanes cassina female dorsal

Female, from dorsal

Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas

opsiphanes cassina female ventral

Female, from ventral

Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas