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 121 - 144 of 196 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 08, 2013
Submitted by: James Fox
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Feb 03, 2013
Observation date: Oct 03, 2010
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 12, 2013
Observation date: Sep 04, 2008
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Dec 19, 2012
Observation date: Oct 26, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce Griffin)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 24, 2012
Submitted by: Jeniffer_A
Region: San Salvador, El Salvador
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Sep 03, 2012
Observation date: Apr 14, 2012
Submitted by: zbsa01
Region: Matanzas, Cuba
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jul 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: Dec 27, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: kimgarwood
Verified date: Jan 16, 2012
Observation date: Oct 28, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: kimgarwood
Verified date: Jan 16, 2012
Observation date: Aug 08, 2011
Submitted by: SergioRTC
Region: Managua, Nicaragua
Verified by: kimgarwood
Verified date: Aug 22, 2011
Observation date: Oct 27, 2006
Submitted by: Olga_H
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 11, 2011
Observation date: Mar 29, 2011
Submitted by: dmtaggart
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 20, 2011
Observation date: Jul 29, 2008
Submitted by: naomiblinick
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: May 14, 2009
Submitted by: stevecary (Larry Malone & Gene Jercinovic)
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 28, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (David Spicer)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (David Spicer)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Dec 14, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Hart)
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2010
Observation date: Oct 26, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce M. Griffin)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jun 07, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2008
Observation date: Oct 05, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Joe DiPasquale)
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Dec 08, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kim Bacon)
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
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