Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869
Epargyreus zestos
This record describes Epargyreus zestos (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Not seen in the last six years of Florida surveys conducted for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District - Liston, 2013 As of June 2013, considered likely extinct: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Eudaminae
- Genus
- Epargyreus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Uplands, Tropical hardwood hammocks
Geographic Range
Florida Keys / Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands to St. Vincent - , BOA
Seasonal Activity
year round in s. FL - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Florida hammock milkpea - Galactia striata (Fabaceae)
Life History
Green eggs laid singly on leaves of host. Caterpillar eats leaves and lives in a shelter of leaves tied together with silk.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epargyreus zestos. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869
What is Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869?
Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869 (Epargyreus zestos) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869?
up to 2 inches
Where is Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Uplands, Tropical hardwood hammocks |
| Range | Florida Keys / Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands to St. Vincent - , BOA |
What does Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869 eat?
The diet of the Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869 includes Florida hammock milkpea - Galactia striata (Fabaceae).
When is Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869 active?
Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869: seasonal activity - year round in s. FL - MPG.
What is the life cycle of a Zestos Skipper - Hodges#3869?
Green eggs laid singly on leaves of host. Caterpillar eats leaves and lives in a shelter of leaves tied together with silk.