Malachite Butterfly "Siproeta Stelenes" from Eden of Wings Nursery, FL

Wingspan: 3 1/4" to 4"

Also known as Malachite Siproeta Stelenes, Siproeta Stelenes Biplagiata or  Emerald Green Butterfly. The distinctive green spots of the malachite vary in size and shape among individual butterflies. There are seen in parks and backyards spending their time around green plants with which they easily blend it.  They like eat rotten fruit, like bananas and mangoes. Malachite butterfly larvae spend most of their time in the underside of leaves, to avoid contact with predators. Caterpillars are black with red markings and spines that will cause a rash if you touch them.  By sticking to warm winter areas, the malachite has multiple generations a year, and you can see adult anytime.

Egg: The egg of Emerald green Butterfly is very small, round and translucent green.

Larva: The caterpillar is velvety black. There is a row of long, branched spines across each body segment. The spine on the back are orange. The head is black witha long pair at the top.

Pupa: The pupa is green with minute black spots and a black cremaster. There are few yellow spines on the back. The last stage larva spins a very long pad of silk from which the pupa hang.

What are the Host Plants for the Malachite Butterfly? 

 There are only two host plants for the Malachite Butterfly. You can find them at our nursery "Eden of Wings" 1036 Enterprise Ostend Rd. or order them at www.edenofwings.com 

* Verba maravilla " ruellia coccinea"

* Green Shrimp plant "Blechum brownei"