Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944
Ephyriades brunnea
This record describes Ephyriades brunnea (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very south Florida only. Semicircular area near tip of forewing is surrounded by white spots. Female has purple sheen.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Pyrginae
- Tribe
- Erynnini
- Genus
- Ephyriades
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Pine forests/savannahs.
Geographic Range
South Florida and Keys, also West Indies
Seasonal Activity
Throughout year, several flights
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar.
Life History
Feeds on Loucustberry, e.g., the threatened Key Locustberry, Byrsonima lucida , and Barbados cherry Malpighia glabra . Larvae live in leaf nests.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ephyriades brunnea. 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 Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944
What is Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944?
Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 (Ephyriades brunnea) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944?
Wingspan 4.2-4.8 cm
How do you identify Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944?
Very south Florida only. Semicircular area near tip of forewing is surrounded by white spots. Female has purple sheen.
Where is Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Pine forests/savannahs. |
| Range | South Florida and Keys, also West Indies |
What does Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 eat?
The diet of the Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 includes Adults take nectar..
When is Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944 active?
Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944: seasonal activity - Throughout year, several flights.
What is the life cycle of a Florida Duskywing - Hodges#3944?
Feeds on Loucustberry, e.g., the threatened Key Locustberry, Byrsonima lucida , and Barbados cherry Malpighia glabra . Larvae live in leaf nests.