Butterflies of
Mexico
White-rayed
Patch
Chlosyne
ehrenbergii
GEYER, 1833
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe -
MELITAEINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Chlosyne ehrenbergii, Mexico ( image
courtesy © Tony Hoare )
Introduction
The genus
Chlosyne comprises of about 26
species, and is largely Central American in distribution, although
there are several species including californica,
palla, whitneyi,
hoffmanni,
gabbii, harrisii,
fulvia, gorgone
and nycteis which are found only in
North America.
Most
Chlosyne species have a Fritillary /
Checkerspot type of pattern on both wing surfaces, but
ehrenbergii is black on both wing
surfaces, marked with radiating creamy lines, which are more
prominent on the underside of the wings.
Chlosyne
ehrenbergii
is endemic to Mexico.
Habitats
This species is
found mainly in scrubby situations, including along roadsides.
Lifecycle
The eggs are
pale yellow in colour, and laid in batches of up to 200, on the
underside of leaves of the foodplant,
Buddleia ( Scrophulariaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Chlosyne
ehrenbergii
is very unusual in that the females are highly gregarious,
clustering together in groups of a dozen or more on Buddleia
bushes. Often as many
as 4 or 5 females can be found simultaneously ovipositing on a single leaf.
Both sexes
nectar at a wide variety of wild flowers, favouring daisies and
other Compositae.
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