Myscelia ethusa

Myscelia ethusa
Underside
Topside

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Myscelia
Species:
M. ethusa
Binomial name
Myscelia ethusa
(Doyère, [1840])
Synonyms
  • Cybdelis ethusa Doyère, [1840]
  • Myscelia rogenhoferi R. Felder, 1869
  • Myscelia cyanecula C. Felder & R. Felder, [1867]
  • Myscelia pattenia Butler & H. Druce, 1872

Myscelia ethusa, the Mexican bluewing or blue wing, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species was first described by Louis Michel François Doyère in 1840. It is found from Colombia north through Central America to Mexico. Strays can be found up to the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States.

The wingspan is 64–76 mm (2.5–3.0 in). Many generations occur per year.

The larvae feed on the Dalechampia species. Adults feed on rotting fruit.[2]

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:[3]

  • M. e. chiapensis Jenkins, 1984 (Mexico)
  • M. e. cyanecula C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867 (Mexico)
  • M. e. ethusa (Mexico)
  • M. e. pattenia Butler & H. Druce, 1872 (Guatemala and Costa Rica)

References

  1. ^ "Myscelia ethusa - (Doyère, (1840) Mexican Bluewing". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  2. ^ "Mexican Bluewing Myscelia ethusa (Doyère, (1840))". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  3. ^ Savela, Markku (May 26, 2018). "Myscelia ethusa (Doyère, [1840])". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved January 9, 2020.