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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Siproeta stelenes
Lepidoptera / Nymphalidae
Siproeta stelenes, the Malachite, has pale green patches in dark wings and an orange-brown underside. Research on living wings identifies a liquid-containing internal structure associated with their green colour.
Read the species account
Siproeta stelenes belongs to Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae and tribe Victorinini. [1]
The dark upper wings carry translucent pale green or yellow-green patches. The underside combines green with orange-brown. The regional account gives a wingspan of approximately 8.3–10.1 cm and describes seasonal variation near the marginal band. [2]
Records extend from Brazil through Central America, Mexico and the West Indies to southern Florida and southern Texas. Habitats include orchards, riparian vegetation and subtropical deciduous forest. [3][4]
A rare stray recorded at Rattlesnake Springs, Carlsbad Caverns, in 2002 was the first substantiated New Mexico occurrence. [9]
A Texas rearing observation recorded eggs on 19 October 2016 and adult emergence on 18 November, a development period of about 30 days for the observed individuals. [5]
A field study at La Selva, Costa Rica, records Bravaisia as a larval host. In a Texas greenhouse observation, females laid eggs on Ruellia blechum and Ruellia nudiflora offered by the observer. [5][6]
Adults feed at rotting fruit, animal droppings and nectar sources. [4]
The regional account describes males perching or patrolling at forest and orchard openings, slow floating flight, and communal roosts in low shrubs beneath leaves. [2]
A 2023 Cell Reports study examined Siproeta stelenes and Philaethria diatonica. The authors identified an internal space between the upper and lower wing membranes containing liquid and living cells, with hemolymph bilins and carotenoids contributing to green coloration. [7]
Linnaeus described the species in 1758 under Papilio. Siproeta stelenes is the modern combination followed here. [3]
NatureServe’s global rank for Siproeta stelenes is G5, Secure. [3]
Dorsal views emphasize green patches against a dark ground; ventral views show more orange-brown.
Scott Schubr’s illustration preserves the pale green patch arrangement through bold contours and flat colour. The underside provides a distinct orange-brown interpretation of the same wing structure.
Display framed work away from direct sunlight, persistent damp and strong heat. Handle the enclosure and follow the maker’s instructions for exterior cleaning.
Florida Museum of Natural History · Accessed 2026-10-09
Butterflies and Moths of North America · Accessed 2026-10-09
NatureServe Explorer · Accessed 2026-10-09
Chicago Botanic Garden · Accessed 2026-10-09
Berry Nall, Southern Lepidopterists’ News 42(1), 2020, pp. 61–62 · Accessed 2026-10-10
University of Nevada, Reno caterpillar project · Accessed 2026-10-09
Cell Reports 42(8), 112917 (2023) · Accessed 2026-10-09
Cell Reports 42(8), 113019 (2023) · Accessed 2026-10-09
Steve Cary / Pajarito Environmental Education Center · Accessed 2026-10-09
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
Return to the Entomological Atlas ↑Canadian Conservation Institute · Accessed 2026-10-09
