Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088
Atrytonopsis edwardsi
This record describes Atrytonopsis edwardsi (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Brown skipper with checkered edges. |
| Forewing | Forewing has large clear spots. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has small postmedian spots that are not aligned and underside has grey scales. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Atrytonopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona and west Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on various grasses.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Atrytonopsis edwardsi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088
What is Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088?
Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088 (Atrytonopsis edwardsi) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Brown skipper with checkered edges. |
| Forewing | Forewing has large clear spots. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has small postmedian spots that are not aligned and underside has grey scales. |
Where is Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088 found?
Range: Southern Arizona and west Texas.
What does Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088 eat?
The diet of the Sheep Skipper - Hodges#4088 includes Larvae feed on various grasses..