HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

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) » Victorinini » Siproeta » Malachite - Hodges#4446 (Siproeta stelenes)

Species Siproeta stelenes - Malachite - Hodges#4446

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References

Malachite day at the diner - Siproeta stelenes

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 Victorinini

Genus Siproeta

Species stelenes (Malachite - Hodges#4446)

Hodges Number

4446

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Siproeta stelenes (Linnaeus)

Orig. Comb: Papilio stelenes Linnaeus, 1758

Numbers

At least three subspecies are recognized, only one found in the Continental US. Another on Puerto Rico.

Identification

Large butterflies; adults brown to black with large yellowish-green patches, and addition with much silvery coloring below.

Range

S TX (strays N), S FL, Cuba, Caymans, E & W Mexico to Amazon - Map (MPG, BOA)

Replaced on most of Caribbean islands by subspecies steneles (including Puerto Rico, but not northern islands already mentioned).

Habitat

most common in riparian areas

Season

yr round in s. FL; Jun-Mar in s TX (but not present every yr) - (MPG)

Food

Larvae recorded feeding on several species of Blechum, Justicia, & Ruellia (Acanthaceae).

Also, reported from Petitia (Verbenaceae), Breadfruit - Artocarpus altilis (Moraceae), Cajon - Colubrina cubensis (Rhamnaceae), and Sea Grape - Coccoloba uvifera (Polygoniaceae), but these, particularly the last two seem unlikely.

Adults usually feed on rotting fruit, occasionally bird droppings and nectar.

Remarks

Apparently all U.S. specimens are referable to subspecies biplagiata (Fruhstorfer).

Print References

Raymond W. Neck (1977). Effects of the 1933 Hurricanes on Butterflies of Central and Southern Texas. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 31(1): 67.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies of America - BOA

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 March, 2004 - 5:22pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Steve Nanz, Mike Quinn, David Ferguson
Last updated 23 January, 2025 - 10:15pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version