Red-bordered Pixie
Melanis pixe (Boisduval, 1836)
Family: Riodinidae
Subfamily: Riodininae
Identification: Upperside black. Tip of forewing yellow-orange; base of wing with red spot. Hindwing outer margin with band of red spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 1 7/8 inches (3.8 - 4.4 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid in groups of 10-30 on the host tree leaves, stems, or bark; caterpillars feed gregariously on leaves and pupate together in groups.
Flight: January-November in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Guamuchil (Pithecellobium dulce), Albizia, and Inga species; all in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of Pithecellobium, Albizia, Inga, Coffea, Cordia, Lantana, and Citrus.
Habitat: Lowland riparian tropical forest, city parks.
Range: Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south to Costa Rica.
Conservation: Not required for occasional stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 47 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 17, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2008
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Dec 27, 2014
Submitted by: Eddie956
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Nov 07, 2019
Submitted by: Sadaaboli
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Feb 03, 2015
Submitted by: Marco Giron
Region: Cortés, Honduras
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2018
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Oct 30, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2019
Submitted by: prdz3
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Mar 27, 2019
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 28, 2019
Observation date: Oct 23, 2004
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 03, 2019
Observation date: Jan 21, 2019
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 18, 2019
Observation date: Dec 17, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 30, 2018
Observation date: Dec 28, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 30, 2018
Observation date: Dec 06, 2018
Submitted by: anaitzel24
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 08, 2018
Observation date: Dec 02, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 08, 2018
Observation date: Dec 06, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 08, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 26, 2018
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: MichelleG
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 07, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 21, 2018
Observation date: Feb 23, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: Dec 03, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 03, 2017
Observation date: Oct 28, 2017
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2017
Observation date: Nov 05, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 12, 2016
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