Harvester | |
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Underside | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Lycaenidae |
Subfamily: | Miletinae |
Tribe: | Spalgini |
Genus: | Feniseca Grote, 1869 |
Species: | F. tarquinius
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Binomial name | |
Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius, 1793)
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Subspecies | |
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Synonyms | |
Hesperia tarquinius Fabricius, 1793 |
Feniseca tarquinius, the harvester, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, and the only member of the monotypic genus Feniseca. It is found in eastern North America.
This butterfly is the only carnivorous (i.e., insectivorous) butterfly in North America (there are a handful of carnivorous moths, for example Fulgoraecia exigua).[2] The larvae feed on various aphids, such as Neoprociphilus, Pemphigus, Prociphilus, and Schizoneura.
It is found in early spring until fall and is generally scarce. It lives in wooded areas near streams close to alders.[3]
Another butterfly which is possibly carnivorous is Celastrina serotina. It feeds on galls on black cherry and possibly also on the eriophid mites that make the galls.[5]