Malachite
FamilyNymphalidae
Scientific NameSiproeta stelenes
RangeCentral/South America, Florida
HabitatForest edges
About the Malachite
Named for their beautiful green color resembling the mineral malachite. Their large black-bordered green patches are unique among Neotropical butterflies. They feed on rotting fruit and animal dung rather than nectar. Their caterpillars feed on ruellia plants. Commonly seen in butterfly houses worldwide. They fly with a distinctive powerful wingbeat. Their green color comes from pigment, not structural coloration.
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