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White Peacock
Anartia jatrophae (Monroe), 1942 Identification: Wingspan: 2 3/16 - 2 3/4". Largely white with tan highlights and a pale orange border; also with a single eyespot on the forewing and two on the hindwing. Unlikely to be confused with any of the region‘s regularly occurring species. Distribution: The Caribbean and southernmost U.S. south through Mexico and Central America to Venezuela. Resident in the U.S. in southern Texas and central Florida south through the Keys. Status in Massachusetts: One record, as recorded by Farquhar: "A single specimen was captured by Mr. Low on Atlantic Avenue in Boston, June 29, 1901. Probably introduced in a shipment of produce from the tropics". This was perhaps true, although the species has been noted otherwise as far north as New Jersey (Opler, 1992), and the Massachusetts record could certainly have been a stray from the Southeast, arriving by its own power. Normally ranges only occasionally north to South Carolina. 
Flight Period in Massachusetts: All year in the south. Larval Food Plants: Recorded from a number of species in the verbena, mint, figwort and acanthus families. Apparently does not feed on Jatropha manihot, a tropical plant in the Euphorbia family for which it was named. Adult Food Sources: Information for this species in Massachusetts is currently unavailable. Habitat: Open lowlands including wet fields, edges of ponds, and swamps. As a vagrant could be found in any habitat. Life Cycle: Species does not reproduce in Massachusetts. This account was contributed by Mark Mello.
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