Melanis pixe

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Melanis pixe
Melanis pixe

Melanis pixe

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Cube butterfly (Riodinidae)
Subfamily : Riodininae
Genre : Melanis
Type : Melanis pixe
Scientific name
Melanis pixe
( Boisduval , 1836)

Melani pixe is a butterfly ( butterfly ) from the family of riodinidae (Riodinidae).

features

butterfly

The wingspan of the moth is 38 to 44 millimeters. The upper sides of the wings are colored velvety deep black. The apex is bright yellow to orange in color. In the basal region there is a red spot on each of the wings. A number of red spots stand out clearly in front of the edge of the hind wings. The undersides of the wings show an almost identical pattern as on the upper sides, but it is pale. The butterflies are unmistakable due to the very distinctive drawing elements.

Egg, caterpillar, pupa

The egg has a greenish color, is covered with many longitudinal ribs and shows a dark micropyle .

Adult caterpillars are very hairy, have a short, cylindrical body shape and a whitish to yellowish color. Thin, interrupted black horizontal stripes stand out on each segment.

The doll is yellowish to gray-brown in color and has small black dots or horizontal stripes. In some specimens, a clear sign in the form of an anchor stands out. She is trained as a fall doll.

Distribution and occurrence

The main distribution area of ​​the species is in Central America and extends south to Brazil . In climatically favorable years it also occurs in southern Texas . Melanis pixe prefers to colonize tropical forests and parks.

Subspecies

In addition to the nominate form Melanis pixe pixe , two other subspecies are distinguished:

  • Melani pixe sanguinea ( graver , 1910), ( Costa Rica , Panama )
  • Melani pixe corvina ( graver , 1910), ( Colombia ).

Way of life

The moths fly in consecutive generations in Texas from January to November. They like to suck on flowers, for example on lantana ( Lantana ). The eggs are laid on the food plant in groups of 10 to 30 pieces. The caterpillars are sociable and feed on the leaves of various Pithecellobium species.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  2. ^ First stalls at Butterflies of America
  3. ↑ Doll at bug guide
  4. ↑ 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. 355
  5. ^ Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Markku Savela, accessed October 19, 2015 . Distribution and subspecies.

literature

  • James A. Scott (1986). The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4 , p. 355

Web links

Commons : Melanis pixe  - collection of images, videos and audio files