North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides)
JPG -- species photo

Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides [Bates])

Wing span: 2 1/4 - 2 5/8 inches (5.7 - 6.7 cm).

Identification: Upperside is black with a small orange patch at the forewing apex; median white band across both wings does not reach the leading edge of the forewing.

Life history: Males perch in light gaps, along forest edges, or in the canopy. Females lay eggs singly on leaves of host plants in light gaps and forest edges.

Flight: March-November in Mexico, all year in Central America.

Caterpillar hosts: Shrubs in the madder family (Rubiaceae) including Alibertia, Faramea, and Ixora.

Adult food: Decaying fruit, dung.

Habitat: Lowland tropical forests with a definite dry season.

Range: Panama north through Central America to Mexico. A rare stray (once) to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


DeVries, P. J. 1987. The butterflies of Costa Rica and their natural history. 

     Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 

     New Jersey. 327 pages, 50 color plates.



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.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides)
distribution map
map legend

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