Adults are known to feed on a variety of nectar plants, but especially Aster flowers, from which males gather chemicals needed for pheromone production.
The genus Greta is Greek for ‘pearl’, while oto is Greek for ear.
Glasswing butterflies are found in various habitats throughout Central America, usually near a host plant.
Male Glasswings take part in a behavior called lekking where the males gather together and defend small territories. The females choose a male based on his defended territory. After mating, females lay eggs on the host plant. When they hatch, the larvae feed on the host plant until they form pupae.
There are multiple flights throughout the year ranging from Mexico to Panama. Adults can be found year round.
The poisonous compounds in Aster flowers allow males to produce a potent pheromone. Grouping together allows mass release of this pheromone, which makes it very easy for females to locate the lekking grounds of males.
