Tmolus echion

Tmolus echion
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Tmolus
Species: T. echion
Binomial name
Tmolus echion
(Linnaeus, 1767)
Synonyms
  • Papilio echion Linnaeus, 1767
  • Ministrymon echion
  • Thecla echion
  • Papilio crolus Stoll, [1780]
  • Thecla labes Druce, 1907
  • Thecla sanctissima Jörgensen, 1935
  • Thecla echion f. echiolus Draudt, 1920

The Red-spotted Hairstreak or Larger Lantana Butterfly (Tmolus echion) is a butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found from Brazil, north to Sinaloa and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Rare strays can be found in southern Texas. It was introduced to Hawaii in 1902 to control lantana.

The wingspan is 22-32 mm. Adults are on wing in May in southern Texas and all year round in Hawaii and Mexico. Adults feed on flower nectar.

The larvae feed on various tropical plants including verbena, mint and potato species.

Subspecies


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