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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 196 verified sightings
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 05, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Morelos, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Mar 30, 2014
Observation date: Feb 16, 2014
Submitted by: Carmen Paguada
Region: Olancho, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Mar 30, 2014
Observation date: Dec 25, 2013
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Mar 23, 2014
Observation date: Dec 01, 2007
Submitted by: ahempel
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 18, 2014
Observation date: Nov 04, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Nov 11, 2013
Observation date: Nov 08, 2013
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Olancho, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 10, 2013
Observation date: Aug 04, 2013
Submitted by: Pandrot
Region: Hidalgo, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Oct 20, 2013
Observation date: Oct 08, 2008
Submitted by: muegge
Region: Texas, Pecos County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 02, 2013
Observation date: Oct 29, 2002
Submitted by: stephjc
Region: Mobile County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: Jul 05, 2013
Observation date: Feb 20, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: May 09, 2013
Observation date: Apr 17, 2013
Submitted by: Suree
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2013
Observation date: Feb 03, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 19, 2013
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