Lycaena helloides
| Lycaena helloides | ||||||||||||
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Lycaena helloides , male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lycaena helloides | ||||||||||||
| ( Boisduval , 1852) |
Lycaena helloides is a butterfly ( butterfly ) from the family of Gossamer (Lycaenidae).
description
butterfly
The wingspan of the moth is 30 to 38 millimeters. The upper sides of the wings of the males are colored orange-red and have some black-brown spots and spots, the edge area is dark, the edge is whitish. Depending on the angle at which the light falls, they shimmer in violet tones. In the females, the color and pattern of the wings are similar, they are usually a little paler and do not iridescence. In some areas, the moths can also have brownish color variants. The upper side of the hind wings of both sexes shows a narrow, orange-colored, wavy band on the outer edge. Black spots stand out on the undersides of the orange-yellow forewings. The undersides of the hind wings are almost monochrome orange and show only a few black points and a reddish wavy line at the edge. The antennae are alternately ringed black and white.
egg
The whitish eggs are deposited individually at the foot of a food plant.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars have a grass-green basic color and show yellowish lines and stripes.
Doll
The pupa is yellow-green on the abdomen , grass-green on the thorax and cream-colored on the wing sheaths. It is covered with small dark spots.
Similar species
Lycaena dorcas is distinguished by its smaller wingspan (25 to 32 millimeters) and its overall appearance is darker.
distribution and habitat
Lycaena helloides occurs from Alaska along the North American west coast to Baja California . To the east, the distribution area extends over the Midwest to Ohio and the Great Lakes . The species prefers to live on river banks, on moist meadows or in rocky valleys.
Way of life
The moths form one or more generations per year, depending on their geographical occurrence or altitude. In climatically favorable areas they can be found from May to October. They like to suckle on different flowers to take in nectar. The caterpillars feed on a variety of bird knotweed ( Polygonum ) or dock species ( Rumex ). The species overwinters as an egg.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Butterflies and Moths of North America http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Lycaena-helloides
- ^ Butterflies of America http://butterfliesofamerica.com/lycaena_helloides_specimens.htm
- ↑ a b c James A. Scott: The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1986, ISBN 0-8047-2013-4 , p. 389
literature
- James A. Scott: The Butterflies of North America , Stanford University Press, Stanford CA., 1992, ISBN 0-8047-2013-4 , p. 389
Web links
- eol.org - Encyclopedia of Life