Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991
Nastra perigenes
This record describes Nastra perigenes (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Godman (1900) states easily identified from its allies by the longitudinal whitish streaks on the secondaries beneath. Godman (1900) original description as Mastor perigenes is available online at the link in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Nastra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Periodic stray to southern Texas; Mexico to Columbia.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period in Texas is March to December.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on grass species. Ajilvsgi listed Setaria spp. (bristle grass) and Stenotaphrum secundatum (St. Augustine grass). Adults feed on flower nectar.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nastra perigenes. 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 Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991
What is Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991?
Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 (Nastra perigenes) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991?
Tilden (1964) listed the forewing length. ♂ 12-13 mm. ♀ 14-16 mm.
How do you identify Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991?
Godman (1900) states easily identified from its allies by the longitudinal whitish streaks on the secondaries beneath. Godman (1900) original description as Mastor perigenes is available online at the link in the print references.
Where is Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 found?
Range: Periodic stray to southern Texas; Mexico to Columbia.
What does Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 eat?
The diet of the Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 includes Caterpillars feed on grass species. Ajilvsgi listed Setaria spp. (bristle grass) and Stenotaphrum secundatum (St. Augustine grass). Adults feed on flower nectar..
When is Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991 active?
Pale-rayed skipper - Hodges#3991: seasonal activity - The main flight period in Texas is March to December..