Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937
Systasea pulverulenta
This record describes Systasea pulverulenta (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: upperside of wings orangish-brown with darker greenish-brown areas; underside of wings dull green with whitish markings on hindwing; forewing upperside and underside has median line of white/clear cells forming a smooth curve along inner (basal) edge; fringe of all surfaces of all wings dull green, checkered with brown at veins Larva: head reddish-brown; body shiny bluish-green with tiny white dots and thin white band on each abdominal segment; body sparsely covered with short white hairs
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Pyrginae
- Tribe
- Pyrgini
- Genus
- Systasea (Powdered-Skippers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
openings in thorn forest and scrub; parks; near rivers
Geographic Range
southern Arizona to central Texas, south through Mexico to Guatemala
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from February to December in southern Texas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of various plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) adults feed on flower nectar
Life History
females deposit eggs singly on hostplant; overwinters as a larva
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Systasea pulverulenta. 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 Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937
What is Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937?
Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 (Systasea pulverulenta) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937?
wingspan 24-35 mm
How do you identify Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937?
Adult: upperside of wings orangish-brown with darker greenish-brown areas; underside of wings dull green with whitish markings on hindwing; forewing upperside and underside has median line of white/clear cells forming a smooth curve along inner (basal) edge; fringe of all surfaces of all wings dull green, checkered with brown at veins Larva: head reddish-brown; body shiny bluish-green with tiny white dots and thin white band on each abdominal segment; body sparsely covered with short white hairs
Where is Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | openings in thorn forest and scrub; parks; near rivers |
| Range | southern Arizona to central Texas, south through Mexico to Guatemala |
What does Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 eat?
The diet of the Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 includes larvae feed on leaves of various plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) adults feed on flower nectar.
When is Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937 active?
Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937: seasonal activity - adults fly from February to December in southern Texas.
What is the life cycle of a Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937?
females deposit eggs singly on hostplant; overwinters as a larva