Opsiphanes cassina, the split-banded owlet, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. , revision by Piovesan et al. 2023, suggests the species should be a junior synonym of Opsiphanes invirae (Hübner, [1808]), and the various former subspecies placed in other combinations or as synonyms.
The wingspan of female Opsiphanes cassina are roughly wide, while males' wingspans are smaller. The uppersides of their wings are dark brown, with yellow-orange bands crossing the forewings and the edges of the hindwings. The undersides of the wings are also brown, with some large eyespots. Adults of this species are only alive for about ten days, in which they have to feed, mate and lay their eggs.
The larvae are bright green, and possess two prong-like protrusions on their rear. Their diet includes Cocos nucifera, Livistona species, Acrocomia vinifera, Bactris guineensis, Erythrea salvadorensis and Roystonea regia. They are also dangerous defoliators of the oil palm.
This species occurs from Mexico to the Amazon basin.
, the genus (and species) have undergone some revision by Piovesan et al. 2023, suggesting former subspecies below should have alternative placement, and that the nomenotypical subspecies is a junior synonym of Opsiphanes invirae (Hübner, [1808]), prior to this were:<br/>