HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Skippers (Hesperiidae) » Dicot Skippers (Eudaminae) » Phocides » Guava Skipper - Hodges#3866 (Phocides polybius)

Species Phocides polybius - Guava Skipper - Hodges#3866

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Guava skipper Caterpillar - Phocides polybius

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)

Subfamily Eudaminae (Dicot Skippers)

Genus Phocides

Species polybius (Guava Skipper - Hodges#3866)

Hodges Number

3866

Other Common Names

'blood-spot skipper' (Neck 1978)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Phocides polybius (Fabricius)

Syn: Phocides lilea sanguinea (Scudder)(1)

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

s. TX to Argentina - Map (MPG, BOA)

Habitat

Subtropical woodlands; in the US, mainly in developed areas

Season

all year, but less common during summer (MPG)

Food

Caterpillars feed on leaves of Guava - Psidium spp. (Myrtaceae)

Life Cycle

Photo Essay - Mike Quinn, 2003

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

Lipes, J.E., 1962. More butterfly records from Brownsville, Texas, including a foodplant of Phocides polybius (Hesperiidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 15: 114.

Neck, R.W. 1978. Bionomic notes on the blood-spot skipper (Hesperiidae: Phocides lilea sanguinea (Scudder)). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 32: 107-110.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies of America - BOA

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Works Cited

1.	A systematic revision of some of the American butterflies, with brief notes on those known to occur in Essex Co., Massachusetts. Scudder, S.H. 1872. Peabody Academy of Science 4: 24-83.

Contributed by tom murray on 15 August, 2005 - 8:28pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, Joshua Stuart Rose, Mike Quinn
Last updated 28 December, 2017 - 3:12pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version