North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

White-crescent Longtail (Codatractus alcaeus)
JPG -- species photo

White-crescent Longtail (Codatractus alcaeus [Hewitson])

Wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/4 inches (4.2 - 5.7 cm).

Identification: Tailed. Upperside is dark brown; forewing has median band of gold spots. Underside of hindwing is brown with 3 incomplete bands of dark spots and a white patch at the lower part of the wing.

Life history: Caterpillars live in leaf shelters and feed on leaves.

Flight: Many flights from April-October in Mexico; June and October in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Tree legumes Amerimnon and Ichthyomethia.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Tropical woodlands.

Range: Panama north through Mexico. A rare stray to west Texas and the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for a rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 
     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 
     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 
     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.

Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 
     Privately published, Denver, Colo.
White-crescent Longtail (Codatractus alcaeus)
distribution map
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