Special Pieces: Little Mirrors

Dione vanillae is an orange-colored butterfly in the Nymphalidae family. Its common name in Spanish is “espejitos” (little mirrors), in reference to the bright and shiny silvery spots it has on the ventral face of its wings. In English, it is usually called Gulf fritillary or Passion butterfly. Its geographical range goes through the southern United States to Mexico, Central America, the Antilles, The Bahamas, and South America. Its habitat includes subtropical secondary forests, woodland edges, brushy fields, and city gardens. Dione vanillae caterpillars feed on plants of the genus Passiflora.

Photograph taken in a natural area in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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