Doxocopa cyane, the Mexican emperor or cyan emperor, is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. Subspecies Subspecies include: Doxocopa cyane burmeisteri (Godman & Salvin, 1884) (Argentina) Doxocopa cyane cyane (Latreille, 1813) (Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia) Doxocopa cyane mexicana Bryk, 1953 (Mexico, Colombia) Doxocopa cyane vespertina Lamas, 1999 (Peru) Distribution This species is present in Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. Habitat These butterflies inhabit cloudforest at elevations between about above sea level. Description Doxocopa cyane has a wingspan of about . The color of the wings varies by sex. Males show a brilliant electric-blue iridescence on the upperside of the wings, while the wings of the females lack this iridescence. Females have usually a brown ground color with wide longitudinal bands of orange and white on forewings and hindwings. Biology Larvae feed on Celtis spinosa. Males are solitary and territorial. They usually visit wet muddy patches and feed on rotting fruits, dung or carrion. Females mainly inhabit the forest canopy. References External links Butterflies of America Butterflies and Moths Frederick D. Godman et al. Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera. Vol. I (1879-1901) Apaturinae Butterflies described in 1813 Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Butterflies of North America Nymphalidae of South America