Species Systasea pulverulenta - Texas Powdered-Skipper - Hodges#3937

3937

described in 1869 by Felder, who originally placed it in genus Leucochitonea

wingspan 24-35 mm

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

southern Arizona to central Texas, south through Mexico to Guatemala

openings in thorn forest and scrub; parks; near rivers

adults fly from February to December in southern Texas

larvae feed on leaves of various plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae)

adults feed on flower nectar

females deposit eggs singly on hostplant; overwinters as a larva

Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea zampa) forewing median line is offset/jogged near the middle, whereas pulverulenta median line forms a smooth curve along inner (basal) edge; zampa also does not occur in central Texas or the lower Rio Grande valley (compare images and distribution maps of pulverulenta and zampa at nearctica.com)

species account including pinned adult images, description, larval foodplants, habits, habitat, flight season, distribution (Butterflies and Skippers of North America)

pinned and live adult images plus photos of larva and foodplant by various photographers (butterfliesofamerica.com)

author, date, and original genus (nearctica.com)