White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942
Chiomara georgina
This record describes Chiomara georgina (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Each hindwing is brown with a large white patch in the center. The leading edge of the forewing is slightly bent or sickle-shaped. Males have a distinct white patch in the forewing, females' forewings are more mottled. Underside of hindwing is mostly white.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Pyrginae
- Tribe
- Erynnini
- Genus
- Chiomara
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
gardens, clearings, edges
Geographic Range
Argentina north to southern Texas and the West Indies, with strays further north as far as Kansas, Nevada, and southern Arizona - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Year-round. Vagrants north of the usual range are most common in late summer and autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectarivores. Larvae feed on foliage of Malphigiaceae including Barbados Cherry (Malphigia glabra) and Gaudichaudia pentandra.
Life History
Larvae create nests by webbing leaves together.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chiomara georgina. 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 White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942
What is White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942?
White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 (Chiomara georgina) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942?
Each hindwing is brown with a large white patch in the center. The leading edge of the forewing is slightly bent or sickle-shaped. Males have a distinct white patch in the forewing, females' forewings are more mottled. Underside of hindwing is mostly white.
Where is White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | gardens, clearings, edges |
| Range | Argentina north to southern Texas and the West Indies, with strays further north as far as Kansas, Nevada, and southern Arizona - Map (MPG) |
What does White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 eat?
The diet of the White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 includes Adults are nectarivores. Larvae feed on foliage of Malphigiaceae including Barbados Cherry (Malphigia glabra) and Gaudichaudia pentandra..
When is White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942 active?
White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942: seasonal activity - Year-round. Vagrants north of the usual range are most common in late summer and autumn..
What is the life cycle of a White-patched Skipper - Hodges#3942?
Larvae create nests by webbing leaves together.