Small butterfly measuring up to 1 1/4" in length. The upperside is dark gray in color. The female is blue-gray on the lower half of hindwing. The underside is gray with one round black spot with a row of small black dots. Both forewing and hindwing have a wide straight band of white edged with black. The hindwing has two white spots at the base and one long and one short tail. The caterpillar has a brown head and a whitish to pale green, slug-shaped body with short hairs.
Range:
North America, West Indies, Central America, South America
Habitat(s):
Open disturbed areas such as weedy pastures and roadsides.
Food:
Caterpillars feed on young leaves and stems of host plants. Larval host plants include the native coastal Indian mallow (Abutilon permolle), baycedar (Suriana maritima), and pyramidflower (Melochia pyramidata) and the nonnative green shrimp plant (Ruellia blechum). Nectar host plants include the native baycedar and blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis).
