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Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

-Hairstreaks (Subfamily Theclinae)

-Tribe Eumaeini

-Subtribe Strephonotina

-Genus Ministrymon

-Pebbly Hairstreak (Ministrymon janevicroy)


Ministrymon janevicroy, commonly known as the Pebbly Ministreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It occurs in parts of Mexico and Central America, typically in dry forests, scrublands, and open habitats where its larval host plants grow. Adults are active during the day and are often seen perching with wings closed, which displays the cryptic underside pattern that blends well with bark or dry vegetation. Males may patrol or perch in search of females.

Diet

  • Adults feed on nectar from small flowers and may also obtain moisture and minerals from damp ground.

Range

  • Ministrymon janevicroy ranges from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica.

  • It occurs in Guerrero and is found in the Zihua area.

Habitat

  • It inhabits dry tropical deciduous forest, thornscrub, scrub and other seasonally dry woodland.

  • It is particularly associated with relatively open vegetation and forest edges rather than humid, closed-canopy forest.

  • Adults are tiny and can be difficult to notice as they perch among leaves and move through low vegetation.

Description

  • This is a very small hairstreak, with a forewing length of only about 9 mm, giving it a wingspan of roughly 18–20 mm.

  • The upper surface is predominantly brownish to dark grey-brown, with subtle bluish or silvery tones and small tails on the hindwings.

  • The underside is grey-brown with fine dark and pale markings and small orange markings near the hindwing margin.

  • The most useful field character is the olive-green colour of the eyes in living adults.

Pebbly Ministreak

Ministrymon janevicroy

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