Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916
Cabares potrillo
This record describes Cabares potrillo (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Upperside is brown with 2 darker bands across both wings. |
| Forewing | Forewing cell contains a double U-shaped transparent spot. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing margin has shallow scallops; underside of hindwing with 2 dark bands |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Eudaminae
- Genus
- Cabares
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
SE AZ (stray), S TX to Costa Rica / W. Indies - Map (MPG, BOA),
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Aug-Nov (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva: host on Catstongue ( Priva lappulacea , Verbenaceae). Adult: Nectar from flowers of Bidens and Melochia
Life History
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.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cabares potrillo. 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 Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916
What is Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916?
Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 (Cabares potrillo) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916?
29-43mm
How do you identify Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Upperside is brown with 2 darker bands across both wings. |
| Forewing | Forewing cell contains a double U-shaped transparent spot. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing margin has shallow scallops; underside of hindwing with 2 dark bands |
Where is Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 found?
Range: SE AZ (stray), S TX to Costa Rica / W. Indies - Map (MPG, BOA),
What does Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 eat?
The diet of the Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 includes Larva: host on Catstongue ( Priva lappulacea , Verbenaceae). Adult: Nectar from flowers of Bidens and Melochia.
When is Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916 active?
Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916: seasonal activity - mostly: Aug-Nov (MPG).
What is the life cycle of a Potrillo Skipper - Hodges#3916?
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.