Butterflies of
Mexico
Mexican Marbled White
Hesperocharis
graphites
BATES, 1864
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe
- ANTHOCHARIDINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Hesperocharis graphites Mexico ( image
courtesy © Tony Hoare )
Introduction
The genus
Hesperocharis comprises of 12
species, variously distributed from Mexico to Bolivia and
Argentina. They are closely related to the
Anthocharis Orange tips and Euchloe
Dappled Whites of the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions.
Most
Hesperocharis species are similar in
appearance, being white / creamy on both wing surfaces, and marked
with black streaks. On the underside most species have black
veins, and a series of submarginal chevrons or squiggles.
Hesperocharis graphites is found in
Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Habitats
This species is
found primarily in montane habitats, including cloudforest, open
pastures, paramo grassland etc.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies
are usually seen singly, patrolling back and forth across open
areas in search of mates. They sometimes alight on herbage, and
if the weather is cool and sunny they will bask with wings held
half open for short periods. Males are seen more often than
females, invariably when they stop to imbibe mineralised
moisture from damp ground or the edges of puddles and fords.
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