Page 279 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION From southern United States through the Caribbean and
Central America to the Amazon basin
HABITAT Humid, semi-humid, and deciduous forests, both tropical
and subtemperate
HOST PLANTS Mostly Blechum spp., Justicia spp., and Ruellia spp.; also
Calliandra spp., Salvia spp., and Plantago spp.
NOTE Sluggish, inconspicuous caterpillar that is hidden on
ground-cover plants
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but unlikely to be endangered

ADULT WINGSPAN
2–2⅜ in (50–60 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2–2⅛ in (50–55 mm)
SIPROETA STELENES
MALACHITE 277

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Malachite larvae of all ages are somewhat sluggish and reluctant
to move, even when prodded. They generally stay hidden on the
underside of host plant leaves and, despite their relatively bright
coloration, can be di cult to nd, especially when feeding on

low-growing, densely leaved succulents. Given the Malachite’s
very large geographic range, it is not surprising that the species
is found in so many habitats, and that its caterpillars are known
to feed on so many types of plants.

The adults are nimble, wary flyers, often seen perching on
the upper surface of leaves, wings partially open, some 3–6 ft
(1–2 m) above the ground. They are quickly distinguished
from the very similar, but much longer-winged, Scarce Bamboo
Page (Philaethria dido) by the irregular-shaped margins of both
wings. In many areas where the species inhabits fairly seasonal
forests, local or regional migrations are suspected, but these are
poorly documented.
The Malachite caterpillar has a shiny, black
head bearing two long, recurved horns, knobbed
at the end. The body is velvety greenish black,
with three pairs of branched scoli per segment.
The two lateral pairs are blackish, and the dorsal
pairs are reddish yellow. The terminal segments
are often purplish black.

Actual size