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Adelpha basiloides

(Spot-Celled Sister)

Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Spot-Celled Sister

Description

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Family Nymphalidae

'The Nymphalidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Distributed worldwide, butterflies of this family are especially rich in the tropics. They are highly variable, and there are more species in this family than in any other. Adults vary in size from small to large, and their front legs are reduced, unable to be used for walking. Wing shape is also highly variable: some species have irregular margins (anglewings and commas), and others have long taillike projections (daggerwings). Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are frequent colors, while iridescent colors such as purples and blues are rare. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clustsers, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely. Brushfoots overwinter as larvae or adults.

'[1]

Subfamily Limenitidinae

The Limenitidinae are members of the Family Nymphalidae. These admirals and relatives are found on most continents. Adults of most genera are characterized by their flap-and-glide flight. Caterpillar and chrysalis structure defines this group.[2]

Physical Description

Species Adelpha basiloides

Upperside is black with a small orange patch at the forewing apex ; median white band across both wings does not reach the leading edge of the forewing. (ref. 105991)

Color:

Upperside is black with a small orange patch at the forewing apex ; median white band across both wings does not reach the leading edge of the forewing.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 2 1/4 - 2 5/8 inches (5.7 - 6.7 cm).

Habitat

Lowland tropical forests with a definite dry season .

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to -102 meters (0 to -335 feet).[3]

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Shrubs in the madder family (Rubiaceae) including Alibertia, Faramea, and Ixora. Adult food: Decaying fruit, dung.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs singly on leaves of host plants in light gaps and forest edges .

Behavior

Males perch in light gaps , along forest edges , or in the canopy . Flight: March-November in Mexico, all year in Central America.

Taxonomy

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Similar Species

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Members of the genus Adelpha

There are approximately 102 species in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

A. abia · A. aethalia · A. alala · A. alala negra (Alala Sister) · A. aricia · A. attica (Attica Sister) · A. barnesia · A. barnesia leucas · A. basiloides (Spot-Celled Sister) · A. boeotia (Boeotia Sister) · A. boeotia boeotia · A. boreas · A. bredowii (California Sister) · A. bredowii eulalia (Arizona Sister) · A. californica (Adelpha Californica) · A. calliphane (Calliphanes Sister) · A. capucinus capucinus (Capucinus Sister) · A. celerio · A. cestus · A. cocala · A. cocala lorzae · A. coryneta · A. cytherea · A. cytherea cytherea · A. cytherea marcia (Smooth-Banded Sister) · A. deborah · A. delphicola (Delphicola Sister) · A. demialba · A. diocles · A. dominula · A. ehrhardi · A. epione (Epione Sister) · A. epiphicla · A. epizygis (Epizygis Sister) · A. erotia (Erotia Sister) · A. erymanthis · A. eulalia (Arizona Sister) · A. falcata · A. falcipennis · A. felderi · A. fessonia (Band-Celled Sister) · A. fessonia fessonia · A. gelania · A. goyama · A. helepecki · A. heraclea · A. iphicla · A. iphicleola · A. iphicleola iphicleola · A. iphiclus (Pointer Sister) · A. iphiclus iphiclus · A. irma · A. irmina · A. isis · A. isis divina · A. ixia · A. jordani (Jordan's Sister) · A. justina (Justina Sister) · A. lara · A. lerna aeolia · A. leuceria · A. leucophthalma · A. lycorias · A. lycorias lara (Lara Sister) · A. lycorias melanthe · A. malea (Malea Sister) · A. malea aethalia · A. massilia · A. melanippe · A. melanthe · A. mesentina (Mesentina Sister) · A. messana · A. mythra · A. naxia · A. nea · A. olynthia (Olynthia Sister) · A. paraena · A. paraena massilia (Single-Spot Sister) · A. phylaca (Cecropian Sister) · A. pithys · A. plesaure · A. pollina · A. rothschildi · A. salmoneus salmonides · A. saundersi · A. sentia · A. seriphia godmani · A. serpa · A. serpa celerio (Celerio Sister) · A. sichaeus · A. sophax · A. stilesiana · A. syma (Syma Sister) · A. thesprotia (Thesprotia Sister) · A. thessalia · A. thessalia indefecta (Indefecta Sister) · A. thoasa (Thoasa Sister) · A. tracta (Tracta Sister) · A. valentina · A. ximena

More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=18&sci=Nymphalidae&com=Brush-footed Butterflies [back]
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=None&search=Search [back]
  3. Mean = -79.670 meters (-261.385 feet), Standard Deviation = 52.160 based on 12 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2009-05-06