Zebra Mosaic
Colobura dirce
This record describes Colobura dirce (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See discussion under Colobura . Very similar to Colobura annulata , differing in ventral wing pattern. With the lighter brown stripes on the apical half of the ventral front wings wider than in C. annulata , and narrowing distinctly toward the apex of the wing. The same stripes in C. annulata are narrower and more even in width. Larvae of C. dirce lack pale stripes that cross the sides and top of the body at junctions of the segments.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Nymphalini
- Genus
- Colobura (Mosaics or Beauties)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
American tropics from Argentina to Mexico, and on Trinidad and the Greater Antilles; perhaps introduced to Florida.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Colobura dirce. 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 Zebra Mosaic (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by josephfortier; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Zebra Mosaic
What is Zebra Mosaic?
Zebra Mosaic (Colobura dirce) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Zebra Mosaic?
See discussion under Colobura . Very similar to Colobura annulata , differing in ventral wing pattern. With the lighter brown stripes on the apical half of the ventral front wings wider than in C. annulata , and narrowing distinctly toward the apex of the wing. The same stripes in C. annulata are narrower and more even in width. Larvae of C. dirce lack pale stripes that cross the sides and top of the body at junctions of the segments.
Where is Zebra Mosaic found?
Range: American tropics from Argentina to Mexico, and on Trinidad and the Greater Antilles; perhaps introduced to Florida.