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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
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.
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 1999 -
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