Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528
Myscelia ethusa
This record describes Myscelia ethusa (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperwing pattern is unmistakeable, with parallel bands alternating black and brilliant iridescent blue, often fading to purple toward the posterior. Underwing pattern is cryptic, mottled in various shades of brown, blending in excellently with tree bark and dead leaves, and difficult to identify until it spreads its wings or flies. Seems to be much less common in spring than other seasons, but this spring there has also been a fairly intense drought in the LRGV, so this may not be a representative year.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Biblidinae
- Tribe
- Catonephelini
- Genus
- Myscelia (Bluewings)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
woodlands
Geographic Range
s. TX to S. Amer. - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in s. TX ( MPG )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Only known larval host in the US is Vasey's Adelia, Adelia vaseyi (Euphorbiaceae). In the tropics feeds on the genus Dalechampia . Adults found mainly at rotting fruit.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Myscelia ethusa. 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 Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528
What is Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528?
Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 (Myscelia ethusa) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528?
Upperwing pattern is unmistakeable, with parallel bands alternating black and brilliant iridescent blue, often fading to purple toward the posterior. Underwing pattern is cryptic, mottled in various shades of brown, blending in excellently with tree bark and dead leaves, and difficult to identify until it spreads its wings or flies.
Where is Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | woodlands |
| Range | s. TX to S. Amer. - Map (MPG) |
What does Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 eat?
The diet of the Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 includes Only known larval host in the US is Vasey's Adelia, Adelia vaseyi (Euphorbiaceae). In the tropics feeds on the genus Dalechampia . Adults found mainly at rotting fruit..
When is Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528 active?
Mexican Bluewing - Hodges#4528: seasonal activity - Year-round in s. TX ( MPG ).