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Project Noah Nature School
Chlosyne theona minimus
Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Nymphalinae Identification: Upperside with dark checkered pattern. Black median stripe separates inner yellow-orange band and outer orange band. Underside of hindwing has alternating bands of orange and cream spots, all outlined in black. Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.4 cm). Life History: Males patrol and sometimes perch to find females. Eggs are laid in groups on the host plant; caterpillars feed on the leaves. Third- or fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Subtropical scrub, limestone ridges
I have seen many like this around the area of Chichen Itza and also in Uxmal ruins.
Many thanks! Keep checking my spottings. I will add more butterflies from Yucatan soon and I need help to ID them :-)
The Yucatan is outside of the California Patch, but there are others in the same genus in this area. I'm leaning toward a Theona Checkerspot sub-species -Chlosyne theona minimus is listed as being found in the Yucatan, but many of these sub-species very closely resemble each other. (Check out the pinned specimens found here: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Chlosy...) If you're not too picky, I'd go with Theona Checkerspot and call it a day!
Spotted on Sep 10, 2011
Submitted on Sep 20, 2011
