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Chioides albofasciatus

(White-Striped Longtail)

Common Names

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Common Names in English:

White-Striped Longtail

Description

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Family Hesperiidae

'The Hesperiidae are members of the Superfamily Hesperioidea. Worldwide in distribution, skippers are richest in the tropics. More than 3,500 species are described, with approximately 275 in North America, many of which are found only in Arizona and Texas. Most skippers are small to medium, usually orange, brown, black, white, or gray. A few have iridescent colors. Skippers have large eyes, short antennae (often with hooked clubs), stout bodies, and three pairs of walking legs . Their flight is often rapid, making wing movement appear blurred. Adults of most species have long probicscises and feed on floral nectar, but some also take up nutrients from bird droppings. Males have scent scales found in modified forewing patches. Males of most species locate mates by perching (grass and giant-skippers), though some patrol, especially in the open-winged skippers. Globular eggs are laid singly.

'[1]

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 .[2]

Physical Description

Species Chioides albofasciatus

Hindwing with a very long tail. Wings are dark brown; forewing with large pale spots. Underside of hindwing has a long silver-white band from the costa to the base of the tail. (ref. 104849)

Color:

Hindwing with a very long tail. Wings are dark brown; forewing with large pale spots. Underside of hindwing has a long silver-white band from the costa to the base of the tail.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 1/2 - 2 1/8 inches (3.9 - 5.4 cm).

Habitat

Trails and openings in tropical and subtropical forests and brush , and nearby edges .

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Many legumes including Tephrosia, Mimosa, Phaseolus, and Rhynchosia. Adult food: Flower nectar.

Reproduction

The White-striped Longtail has a fast and erratic flight, and perches on the upper sides of leaves.

Many flights throughout the year in South Texas. (ref. 104849)

Behavior

Flight: Many flights throughout the year in South Texas.

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Chioides

There are approximately 18 species in this genus:

C. albius · C. albofasciatus (White-Striped Longtail) · C. catillus (Catillus Longtail Skipper) · C. catillus catillus · C. churchi · C. cinereus · C. concinnus · C. iverna · C. ixion · C. jethira · C. longicauda · C. macromaculatus · C. marmorosa · C. myrto · C. namba · C. tarchon · C. vintra · C. zilpa (Zilpa Longtail)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=19&sci=Hesperiidae&com=Skippers [back]
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Thessia&search=Search [back]
Last Revised: 2009-05-13