North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of New Mexico

Chiricahua White (Neophasia terlootii)
JPG -- species photo

Chiricahua White (Neophasia terlootii Behr)

Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm).

Identification: Male is white and female is orange. On both, the upperside of forewing has black cell and costal margin; tip of wing is black with white spots.

Flight: Two flights, June-July and September-November (most common).

Life history: Males patrol for females around host trees. Caterpillars live in a web and file out of it at night to feed. They pupate together in the web.

Caterpillar hosts: Conifers, particularly western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa).

Adult food: Not reported.

Habitat: Pine forests.

Range: Arizona high mountains south into Mexico.

Conservation: No reports of requirements.

Management needs: None noted.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).

References:

de la Maza Ramirez, R. 1991. Mariposas Mexicanas. Fondo de  Cultura Economica,
      S. A. de C. V. Mexico, D. F. 302 pages, 67 color plates.

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

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin
      Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 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.
Chiricahua White (Neophasia terlootii)
distribution map
map legend

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