North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
JPG -- species photo

Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 3/4 - 7/8 inch (1.9 - 2.2 cm).

Identification: Form "leda" has upperside of forewing brown with pale blue at the base; hindwing mostly pale blue. Form "ines" with larger areas of pale blue. Underside grayish; form "leda" with red postmedian line bordered by white; form "ines" has black postmedian line with little or no red.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on flowers of the host tree; caterpillars eat flowers.

Flight: Two flights: form "leda" from May-August; form "ines" from October-November.

Caterpillar hosts: Mesquite trees (Prosopis species) in the pea family (Fabaceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar including mesquite and seepwillow.

Habitat: Desert thorn scrub, mixed woodland.

Range: Mexico and Baja California north into southern Arizona and southern California.

Conservation: Not required.

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:


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

Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
distribution map
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