Our SOAR Butterfly of the Week is the malachite, also known as Siproeta stelenes. There’s a lively swarm of malachites in the Garden’s pavilion right now that are curious about visitors. While you can find them sipping on nectar, their favorite foods are rotten fruit, sap, dung and even carrion (don’t worry, we don’t have dung or carrion in this exhibit!), so you’ll likely see them grabbing a bite to eat on our fruit trays in the pavilion. Here are some fun facts about this member of the Garden family.
Fun facts
- Malachites are part of the Nymphalidae family.
- Their estimated lifespan is just under 2 weeks, so come see them soon!
- They can be found in their natural habitat which spans from northern South America through the Caribbean and Central America to southern Florida and Texas.
- Their host plants include species in the Acanthaceae family, like Ruellia, Justicia and Blechum.
- The mosaic pattern of their beautifully green, black and tan wings help them camouflage in the dappled shade of tree branches!
- Males and females look similar, however, the color and patterns on the wings of the males are lighter than that of the females.
- The malachite gets its name from the mineral malachite, which is the same shade of green!
Want to see one for yourself? Make sure to get your tickets to SOAR today!
The Garden relies on generous donations from our Members, visitors and community to keep access to our 87 acres open for all and to provide unique horticultural experiences that help people find connections with nature. Please help us continue this mission for years to come by considering a gift to the Garden. You can do so here.
