Myscelia ethusa
Myscelia ethusa, males
Myscelia ethusa is a butterfly ( butterfly ) of the family Nymphalidae ( Nymphalidae ).
- 4.1 Notes and references
- 4.2 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The wingspan of the moth is 64-76 mm. The wing outer margin is slightly serrated. The basic color is black. Females and males have a slightly divergent drawing. On the top of the front wings of the females three nearly parallel blue vertical stripes as well as many white spots are toward the hem. The males show four narrower blue vertical stripes that are partially dissolved in spots and less white spots. On the upper side of the hind wings of females are four slightly wavy blue stripes, while the males show three broad blue stripes. The hind wing underside is mottled in various shades of brown. Thus, the butterfly effect with tightly folded wings like a piece of bark and are difficult to detect by predators.
Egg, caterpillar, pupa
The pale greenish to whitish egg is barrel-shaped and provided with some tips and ribs. Young caterpillars are yellowish, full grown they take a deep green to yellow- green color and are provided on the entire body length with very small white spots and short, slightly branched thorns. At the top there are two striking, highly branched, black horns. The Stürzpuppe initially has a greenish color and shows just before the moths emerged brown elytra.
Distribution and occurrence
The range of the species includes southern Texas, Mexico and Colombia, as well as large parts of Central America. Myscelia ethusa preferred populated subtropical forest areas.
Way of life
The moths fly in several generations throughout the year. You like to suck on over-ripe fruit or damp Erdstellen. The caterpillars live on the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ) scoring genus Dalechampia.