Common Names
Common Names in English:
Potrille Skipper, Potrillo Skipper
Description
Subfamily Pyrginae
Pyrgines are primarily tropical American species of the Family Hesperiidae. There are approximately 80 North American species. Most genera are tropical, but the duskywings and checkered-skippers are mainly temperate and also occur in Eurasia . Adults of many species land with their wings open, although some perch with their wings closed or half open. They imbibe nectar from flowers, and males of many species take in moisture from moist sand or mud . Some adults also feed on bird droppings. Many tropical species rest underneath leaves when inactive . Females lay eggs singly. Most species lay eggs directly on host-plant leaves, while others lay on nearby plants or objects. Almost all species use broad-leafed plants as their caterpillar hosts, and caterpillars live in rolled-leaf or webbed-leaf shelters .
Physical Description
Color:
Upperside is brown with 2 darker bands across both wings. Forewing cell contains a double U-shaped transparent spot. Hindwing margin has shallow scallops ; underside of hindwing with 2 dark bands.
Size/Age/Growth
Wing span : 1 1/8 - 1 11/16 inches (2.9 - 4.3 cm).
Habitat
Subtropical open fields and moist woods , edge of the Rio Grande.
Biology
Diet
Caterpillar hosts: Catstongue (Priva lappulacea) in the vervain family (Verbenaceae). Adult food: Nectar from flowers of Bidens and Melochia.
Reproduction
Eggs are laid on leaves of the host plant. Young caterpillars can be killed by a powdery mildew on the leaves, and they can die if punctured by the sharp hooked spines on the lower surfaces. Consequently, they live in silk shelters and move around very little.
Behavior
Flight: Three broods throughout the year in South Texas.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
()
- arthropods
- Class:
Insecta
()
- Insects
- Order:
Lepidoptera
()
- Butterflies, Moths
- Family:
Hesperioidea
()
- Family:
Hesperioidea
(
- Order:
Lepidoptera
(
- Class:
Insecta
(
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Cabares potrillo (Lucas 1857)
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name .
Similar Species
Members of the genus Cabares
There are approximately 4 species in this genus:
C. paterculus · C. potrillo (Potrillo Skipper) · C. reducta · C. rinta
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
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- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 26, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
- LepIndex: The Global Lepidoptera Names Index
- MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.
- Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan, Ray E. Stanford, Michael Pogue, coordinators. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: Mountain Prairie Information Node. March 26, 2007.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 26, 2008:
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Costa Rica): Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2602379
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-181568.0
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEP17010
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 172528
