Melanis pixe, the red-bordered pixie, is a species in the butterfly family Riodinidae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1836.
| Red-bordered pixie | |
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| Melanis pixe, El Salvador | |
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| Species: | M. pixe
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| Binomial name | |
| Melanis pixe (Boisduval, 1836)
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Description edit
Melanis pixe has a wingspan of about 40 millimetres (1.6 in). The upperside of the wings is black. The tip of forewing is yellow orange and the base has a red spot. The hindwing outer margin has a band of red spots. Eggs are laid in groups of 10 to 30 on the host tree leaves, stems, or bark and the caterpillars feed on the leaves.[1]
Distribution and habitat edit
This species is found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south to Costa Rica.
Biology edit
The larvae feed on Albizia caribea, Inga species and Pithecellobium species (including Pithecellobium dulce).
Subspecies edit
pixe Mexico sanguinea (Stichel, 1910) Costa Rica - Panama
References edit
- ^ "Red-bordered Pixie". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Metalmark Web and Data.
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