Red-bordered pixie

Appearance

"Melanis pixe" has a wingspan of about 40 millimetres. 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.

Naming

pixe Mexico
sanguinea Costa Rica - Panama

Distribution

This species is found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south to Costa Rica.

Behavior

The larvae feed on "Albizia caribea", "Inga" species and "Pithecellobium" species.

Habitat

This species is found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south to Costa Rica.