Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119
Panoquina ocola
This record describes Panoquina ocola (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: dark brown with elongated pointed forewings that project far beyond hindwings when at rest; a series of white patches on forewing upperside, the largest in a distinct V-shape hindwing unmarked above and beneath; female has purple iridescence on hindwing underside Larva: grayish-green, with first two segments bluish-green; dark dorsal line and a greenish-white stripe along each side; head light green
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Panoquina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Adults prefer damp areas in the south, but can be found in any flowery area during migrations.
Geographic Range
e US, Ont., & AZ (rarely) / W. Indies / Mex. to Argentina - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Flies all year in Florida and Texas; August-October in Arizona; migrates north each year, occasionally reaching Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio by September or October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on aquatic and semi-aquatic grasses, specifically: Rice ( Oryza sativa ), Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum ), and Trompetilla Grass ( Hymenachne amplexicaulis ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Panoquina ocola (W. H. Edwards, 1863)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Panoquina ocola. 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 Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119
What is Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119?
Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 (Panoquina ocola) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119?
wingspan 29-33 mm
How do you identify Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119?
Adult: dark brown with elongated pointed forewings that project far beyond hindwings when at rest; a series of white patches on forewing upperside, the largest in a distinct V-shape hindwing unmarked above and beneath; female has purple iridescence on hindwing underside Larva: grayish-green, with first two segments bluish-green; dark dorsal line and a greenish-white stripe along each side; head light green
Where is Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Adults prefer damp areas in the south, but can be found in any flowery area during migrations. |
| Range | e US, Ont., & AZ (rarely) / W. Indies / Mex. to Argentina - Map (MPG) |
What does Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 eat?
The diet of the Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 includes Larvae feed on aquatic and semi-aquatic grasses, specifically: Rice ( Oryza sativa ), Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum ), and Trompetilla Grass ( Hymenachne amplexicaulis )..
When is Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119 active?
Ocola Skipper - Hodges#4119: seasonal activity - Flies all year in Florida and Texas; August-October in Arizona; migrates north each year, occasionally reaching Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio by September or October..