Dione moneta

The Mexican silverspot can be distinguished from similar fritillary butterflies by its orange upperside with brown wing bases and thick, dark veins. The most diagnostic feature is the underside of the hind wing, which is brown and covered with large, conspicuous silver spots—unlike the Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), which lacks such prominent silver spotting beneath. The wingspan measures 3 to 3¼ inches (approximately 76–83 mm). The overall wing shape is somewhat angular compared to the more rounded wings of the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae).

In its core range, the species inhabits mid-elevation tropical woodlands. It has been reported to breed sporadically in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The Colorado vagrant individual was observed in a habitat mosaic of shortgrass prairie with sandstone bluffs, ponderosa pine forest, and riparian areas with wild plum (Prunus americana) in bloom.

Native range extends from Mexico through Central America to Brazil. In the United States, it strays to south Texas and rarely to the southwest and Big Bend region of Texas. Vagrant records include Roosevelt County, New Mexico (May 8, 2005) and Colorado Springs, Colorado (April 18, 2017)—the latter representing what appears to be the first documented record for Colorado. GBIF records indicate presence in Colombia in the Andean cordilleras between 1500–2000 meters elevation.

Recorded from late spring to late fall in its northern range, with multiple broods in Mexico. The Colorado observation occurred on April 18.

Larval foodplants are passion vines (Passiflora species), which do not occur naturally in Colorado. Adults have been observed nectaring on wild plum (Prunus americana) blossoms.

Adults are known to gather at flowering plants to nectar. The species exhibits vagrant behavior, occasionally straying far north of its core breeding range, as evidenced by records in New Mexico and Colorado. Multiple broods occur annually in Mexico.

The species holds significance for lepidopterists and naturalists due to its striking appearance and rarity as a vagrant in the United States. The 2017 Colorado record generated considerable interest in the regional entomological community and was documented through citizen science observation and expert verification. The species name references Roman mythology, reflecting historical naming conventions in lepidopterology.

• Agraulis vanillae (Gulf Fritillary)Similar orange and brown coloration, but lacks the large silver spots on the hind wing underside that distinguish D. moneta; also has more rounded wing shape
• Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary)Overlaps in range and general appearance, but underside of hind wing lacks the prominent silver spotting characteristic of D. moneta; more commonly encountered in the southwestern United States

• butterfly
• Nymphalidae
• Heliconiinae
• vagrant
• Mexican silverspot
• passion vine feeder
• silver-spotted underside
• tropical stray
• Colorado record
• North American vagrant

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
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