Mexican Bluewing
Myscelia ethusa (Doyère, [1840])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Biblidinae
Identification: Forewing apex is truncated. Upperside is black with iridescent blue bands; outer half of forewing has white spots.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.4 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Young caterpillars make a resting perch by attaching dung pellets and silk to a leaf vein. The adults rest on tree trunks with wings closed, exposing their undersides which look like bark.
Flight: Many flights throughout the year in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: In the tropics, Dalechampia in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).
Adult Food: Rotting fruit.
Habitat: Stream valleys with dry scrub or scattered tropical forest.
Range: Colombia north through Central America to Mexico. Periodically strays and lives in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Conserve remaining Tamaulipan brushland habitats in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Expand the lower Rio Grande Valley refuge complex. Protect existing habitats on refuges.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 57 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2016
Submitted by: JohnBoback
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
Observation date: Nov 04, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2016
Observation date: Jul 29, 2016
Submitted by: tripp.davenport...
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 02, 2016
Observation date: Jan 22, 2011
Submitted by: roseanna
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 03, 2016
Observation date: Aug 15, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 16, 2015
Observation date: Nov 22, 2013
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 30, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2015
Observation date: Nov 09, 2013
Submitted by: bellhanley
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 28, 2015
Observation date: Nov 08, 2014
Submitted by: Kurt R. Schwarz
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2014
Observation date: Jan 29, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Morelos, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Apr 21, 2014
Observation date: Jan 06, 2010
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Wanda Smith (Wanda Smith)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (David Spicer)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (David Spicer)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Nov 29, 2006
Submitted by: Wanda Smith (Wanda Smith)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen (Kelly Mortensen)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Nov 17, 2008
Submitted by: Wanda Smith (Wanda Smith)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen (Kelly Mortensen)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Oct 14, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 17, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 18, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 3
- next ›