Simple Facts About Moths & Butterflies

34. This beautiful green butterfly is found in the southern Florida and the Florida Keys, as well as, in Brazil and Central America, Mexico and in the West Indies. It is called the Malachite butterfly, (Siproeta steines). It is pronounced (MAL-a-kite), and is easily recongnized by its large black wings that are splashed with a brilliant green color.
The vibrant green color, is what makes this butterfly stand out as it is very beautiful. The habitat of this butterfly is along the edges of weedy fields and wooded areas. This butterfly flies in a slow floating motion, but can move faster when disturbed. It has a wingspan of 3-4 inches when full grown.

35. The Malachite butterfly female lays small, dark-green eggs one at a time on the newest leaves of host plants. The young caterpillars eat and rest on the leaves from underneath. The caterpillars become a rich, velvety black with red bristles and spined horns on their heads. If disturbed the caterpillars spit a green fluid. The spines of the older larvae can cause a rash on human skin when touched.

36. The food sources of the Malachite caterpillar are the belchum (shimp plant), and the ruellia (wild petunia), and plantago. The adult butterflies enjoy rotten fruit and sometimes even eat bird droppings. The Malachite also eats nectar from the flowers of some trees. They can eat all day long and fly to flowers up to 38 feet high above the ground.