Malachite
Siproeta stelenes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown to black with translucent whitish green or yellow-green patches. Underside is orange-brown with greenish patches. Dry season (winter) form is larger and the hindwing underside has smudged black marks inside the orange marginal band; wet season (summer) form is smaller and has silver marks instead of black smudges.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 inches (8.3 - 10.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch on shrubs in forest or orchard openings and sometimes patrol for females with a slow, floating flight. Adults roost together under the leaves of low shrubs. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves, which caterpillars eat and rest beneath.
Flight: Two to three broods during the summer; one brood of the winter form hibernates.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cafetin (Blechum brownei) and ruellia (Ruellia coccinea) in the family Acanthaceae.
Adult Food: Rotting fruit. Occasionally feeds on bird droppings and nectar from flowers of lianas, trees, and sometimes herbaceous plants. Malachites may feed all day long and may fly to flowers 38 feet high in the canopy.
Habitat: Mango, citrus, and avocado orchards in Florida; subtropical evergreen or semideciduous forests in Central America.
Range: Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida and South Texas. A rare stray into Kansas. Comments: The southern Florida populations have become established since the 1960s; presumably having emigrated from Cuba.
Conservation: Monitor United States populations.
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 111 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 16, 2021
Submitted by: Anne Joy
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: Oct 29, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Nov 06, 2020
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, United States, Uvalde County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 12, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Escuintla, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
Observation date: Nov 07, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Aug 19, 2018
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: John Calhoun (Craig Huegel via Linda Cooper)
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Oct 20, 2004
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 29, 2009
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 17, 2018
Observation date: Nov 12, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2018
Observation date: Mar 04, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Oct 11, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: Mimi Gardenerd
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2017
Observation date: Feb 02, 2017
Submitted by: tombo
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 03, 2017
Observation date: Nov 06, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
Observation date: Nov 20, 2013
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 01, 2015
Observation date: Feb 15, 2015
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Alajuela, Costa Rica
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 25, 2015
Observation date: Feb 17, 2012
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Bocas del Toro Province, Panama
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 08, 2014
Observation date: Jun 23, 2014
Submitted by: Teresa Jacobs
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 03, 2014
Observation date: Jan 19, 2010
Submitted by: W Fogleman
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 10, 2014
Observation date: Feb 16, 2014
Submitted by: Carmen Paguada
Region: Olancho, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Mar 30, 2014
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