Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000
Perichares adela
This record describes Perichares adela (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very large for a grass-skipper. Mottled pattern under hindwing. Large yellow spots on forewing. Red eyes show clearly only if lit from right angle. Dorsal surface of thorax sometimes, but not always, iridescent green. First U.S. record reported by Freeman (1945).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Percharini
- Genus
- Perichares (Ruby-eyes)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
fields and forest edges
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: caterpillars hosted on grasses including sugarcane and bamboo
Life History
Seems to be crepuscular; nearly all sightings are in morning or evening. Often nectaring high up in Mexican Olive (Cordia boissieri) and other flowering trees.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Perichares adela (Hewitson, 1867), formerly a subspecies of Perichares philetes (Gmelin, [1790]), extralimital, is raised to full species status in Burns et al. (2008).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Perichares adela. 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 Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000
What is Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000?
Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000 (Perichares adela) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000?
Very large for a grass-skipper. Mottled pattern under hindwing. Large yellow spots on forewing. Red eyes show clearly only if lit from right angle. Dorsal surface of thorax sometimes, but not always, iridescent green.
Where is Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields and forest edges |
| Range | s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA) |
What does Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000 eat?
The diet of the Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000 includes caterpillars hosted on grasses including sugarcane and bamboo.
What is the life cycle of a Green-backed Ruby-eye - Hodges#4000?
Seems to be crepuscular; nearly all sightings are in morning or evening. Often nectaring high up in Mexican Olive (Cordia boissieri) and other flowering trees.