The Mexican Silverspot is the featured butterfly of the 14^th Texas Butterfly Festival and the subject of its official Festival T-shirt.

Design for the T-shirt has been provided by Dora Martinez.   In her design, Dora depicts not only the upper and under side of the wings, but also the caterpillar size in comparison to the butterfly.

The Mexican Silverspot is a Brush-footed butterfly—part of the family Heliconians.  The upper side is orange with brown at the wing bases; veins thick and dark, the underside hind wing is brown with large silver spots. Wing spans are 3-3 ¼ inches (7.6-8.3cm).

Eggs are laid singly or in clusters on the host plant: Corky-Stemmed Passion flower, shown on the T-shirt .  Caterpillars eat slots into the leaves and sometimes feed together in groups.  Adults sometimes roost in groups near the ground on short vegetation.

While the butterfly ranges from Brazil north through Central America and Mexico, observations in the U.S have been virtually exclusive in the state of Texas.  The Mexican Silverspot flies from April to December and throughout the year in the tropics.  It is not rare in the Valley and may well be observed during the Festival!