North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Tropical Greenstreak (Cyanophrys herodotus)
JPG -- species photo

Tropical Greenstreak (Cyanophrys herodotus [Fabricius])

Wing span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Identification: Hindwing tailed. Upperside blue; face and underside green. Hindwing with only 1 red-brown spot at lower outer margin.

Life history: Females lay eggs singly on flowers and flower stalks of host plants. Caterpillars feed on leaves and flowers.

Flight: Late May-late October in South Texas, throughout the year in Central America and Mexico.

Caterpillar hosts: Various shrubs and trees in Central America and Mexico including Lantana camara, Cornutia grandifolia, Clerodendron paniculatum (Verbenaceae); Lithraea brasiliensis, Schinus molle, Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae); and Mikania (Asteraceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Seasonally dry and wet tropical forests and neighboring edges.

Range: Brazil north through Central and South America to Sinaloa and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare 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

Tropical Greenstreak (Cyanophrys herodotus)
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page