Species Phocides palemon - Guava Skipper

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Hesperioidea (Skippers)

Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)

Subfamily Eudaminae (Dicot Skippers)

Genus Phocides

Species palemon (Guava Skipper)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

P. polybius

Identification

Unmistakeable; very dark with a golden head, metallic blue streaks on the body and iridescence on the wings, a pair of red spots midway on the leading edge of each forewing.

Range

Argentina north through Mexico to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Habitat

Subtropical woodlands; in the US, mainly in developed areas

Season

all year

Food

Adults feed on nectar. Caterpillars feed on leaves of Guava (Psidium spp.)

Life Cycle

Caterpillars use silk to stick leaves together and form shelters; feed mostly at night.

Remarks

Has become more common in the US due to use of Guava species in ornamental landscaping.

Print References

Wauer, Roland H. "Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley" Boulder CO: Johnson Books, 2004.

Internet References

NPWRC page

Contributed by tom murray on 15 August, 2005 - 8:28pm
Additional contributions by Joshua Stuart Rose
Last updated 27 May, 2006 - 4:44pm

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