Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3
Adelpha basiloides
This record describes Adelpha basiloides (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The white wing band on this species fades out just short of the leading edge of the forewing. There is usually one faded white cell just beyond the end of the continuous band; the second-to-last cell of the band tends to bulge outward toward the apex of the forewing. There are only 4-5 US records of the adult; reproduction has not been confirmed in the US, and none of its known host plants occur in this country.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Limenitidinae
- Tribe
- Limenitidini
- Genus
- Adelpha (Sisters)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Ecuador - Map (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults feed primarily on rotting fruit and dung. Caterpillar hosts are shrubs in the family Rubiaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Adelpha basiloides (Bates, 1865)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Adelpha basiloides. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3
What is Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3?
Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3 (Adelpha basiloides) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3?
The white wing band on this species fades out just short of the leading edge of the forewing. There is usually one faded white cell just beyond the end of the continuous band; the second-to-last cell of the band tends to bulge outward toward the apex of the forewing.
Where is Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3 found?
Range: s. TX (as a stray) to Ecuador - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3 eat?
The diet of the Spot-celled Sister - Hodges#4527.3 includes Adults feed primarily on rotting fruit and dung. Caterpillar hosts are shrubs in the family Rubiaceae..