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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc. (Nymphalinae) » Melitaeini » Tiny Checkerspots (Microtia) » Elf - Hodges#4510 (Microtia elva)

Species Microtia elva - Elf - Hodges#4510

Classification · Hodges Number · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Internet References
Elf Microtia elva - Microtia elva - male Tiny - Microtia elva Elf - Microtia elva Microtia elva Microtia elva Microtia elva Elf - Microtia elva Elf - Microtia elva
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Subfamily Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc.)
Tribe Melitaeini
Genus Microtia (Tiny Checkerspots)
Species elva (Elf - Hodges#4510)
Hodges Number
4510
Explanation of Names
Microtia elva H. Bates 1864. Type locality: "Guatemala, interior; also Nicaragua"
Microtia elva horni Rebel 1906. Type locality: Oaxaca, Mexico
Microtia elva draudti Higgins 1981. Type locality: Veracruz, Mexico [based on Microtia elva f. draudti Röber 1914]
Size
Small, wingspread under 1.5 inch.
Identification
Orange on black pattern, combined with tiny size, is unmistakable.
Range
se AZ, s. TX / Mex to S. Amer. - MAP (MPG)
Food
Adults take nectar and visit damp ground. Larval hosts include Tetramerium, Justicia, and likely other members of Acanthaceae.
Remarks
Perhaps a mimic of certain Heliconians and Ithomians.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - MPG
Butterflies of America - BOA
Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA
Contributed by Ron M. on 25 September, 2008 - 12:06am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, David Ferguson
Last updated 28 January, 2018 - 5:51pm

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