Malachite (Butterflies of Alabama)

Malachite

Siproeta stelenes

Summary ⁷

The Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) is a neotropical brush-footed butterfly (family Nymphalidae). The malachite has large wings that are black and brilliant green or yellow-green on the uppersides and light brown and olive green on the undersides. It is named for the mineral malachite, which is similar in color to the bright green on the butterfly's wings. The wingspread is typically between 8.5 and 10 cm (3.3 and 3.9 in). The malachite is found throughout Central and northern South America, where it is...

North american ecology (us and canada) ⁸

Siproeta stelenes is resident to the most southern tip of Texas and the southern tip of Florida, and ranges south to Brazil and the Greater Antilles and it migrates north as far as Kansas and central Florida (Scott 1986). Habitats are subtropical wooded areas. Host plants are semi-woody herbs, with known hosts restricted to two families, Acanthaceae and Plantaginaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly or in a loose cluster of two or three eggs. There are multiple flights all year (Scott 1986).