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• Conservation Status
• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Diet
• Reproduction
• Behavior
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Notes
• Keep Exploring

Conservation Status

Status

G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Taxonomy

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name.

Physical 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.

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).

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Colombia and Venezuela north through Central America and the West Indies to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Strays north to central Texas. Uncommon along the Rio Grande. A few strays to Bexar and Comal Counties in Central Texas. Numerous records during the 2003 Texas Butterfly Festival.

Habitat

Subtropical open fields and moist woods, edge of the Rio Grande.

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.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Cabares:

There are approximately 4 species and subspecies in this genus: C. paterculus · C. potrillo (Potrillo Skipper) · C. reducta · C. rinta

More Info

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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
• 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:

• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEP17010
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 172528