North American Butterflies and Moths List

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The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of New Mexico

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)
JPG -- species photo

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta Hübner)

Wing span: 3 - 3 1/4 inches (7.6 - 8.3 cm).

Identification: Upperside orange with brown at the wing bases; veins thick and dark. Underside hindwing brown with large silver spots.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly or in clusters on the host plant. Caterpillars eat slots into the leaves and sometimes feed together in groups. Adults sometimes roost in groups near the ground on short vegetation.

Flight: April-December in Texas, throughout the year in the tropics.

Caterpillar hosts: Many species of passion-vines (Passifloraceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Edges and openings in evergreen mid-elevation tropical forest.

Range: Brazil north through Central America and Mexico. Strays to southern New Mexico and Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

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:


Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 

     University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.



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.



Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. 

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Add Toliver, M., Holland, R., and S.J. Cary. 1996. Distributional data

     for New Mexico Butterflies. Privately published. Albuquerque, N.M.

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)
distribution map
map legend

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