Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896
Telegonus tsongae
This record describes Telegonus tsongae (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Several species of Astraptes have a similar metallic blue color on the body and inner wings. One study in Costa Rica concluded that there were at least ten cryptic species within A. fulgerator there, with virtually identical adults but very different caterpillars, different host plants, and different ecosystem preferences. Det. Frank R. Hedges, 1973 Type Locality: Texas, Starr Co., Roma, by the international bridge, 26.4047, -99.0186, 14-VI-2015 [USNM]. Field (1940) reports the first U.S. record was a single specimen taken at Donna, Hidalgo Co., Texas by Miss Calla Stainke on November 10, 1935.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Eudaminae
- Genus
- Telegonus (Flashers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
c. TX (as a stray) to ne. Mex. - Map (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectar feeders, most often on woody plants. Caterpillars of US populations feed on foliage of Coyotillo ( Karwinskia humboldtiana ; Rhamnaceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Telegonus tsongae Grishin, 2023
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Telegonus tsongae. 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 Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Hartmut Wisch , Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896
What is Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896?
Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896 (Telegonus tsongae) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896?
48 to 61 mm
How do you identify Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896?
Several species of Astraptes have a similar metallic blue color on the body and inner wings. One study in Costa Rica concluded that there were at least ten cryptic species within A. fulgerator there, with virtually identical adults but very different caterpillars, different host plants, and different ecosystem preferences. Det. Frank R. Hedges, 1973
Where is Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896 found?
Range: c. TX (as a stray) to ne. Mex. - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896 eat?
The diet of the Qian's Flasher - Hodges#3896 includes Adults are nectar feeders, most often on woody plants. Caterpillars of US populations feed on foliage of Coyotillo ( Karwinskia humboldtiana ; Rhamnaceae)..