Arizona Giant-Skipper
Agathymus aryxna (Dyar, 1905)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Upperside dark brown with both wings suffused with orange, especially at bases and postmedian bands of small orange-yellow spots separated by black veins. Spot bands are wider in the female. Underside of hindwing is gray with a vague lighter band.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 3/8 inches (5.0 - 6.1 cm).
Life History: Adults have a noisy, fast flight. From early morning to noon males perch near host plants to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the host and fall to the base of the plant. A young caterpillar crawls to a leaf tip and burrows inside where it eats pulp and then hibernates. In the spring the caterpillar makes a new burrow in a leaf base where it feeds on sap until becoming inactive for the summer. Before pupating, the caterpillar enlarges the opening of its burrow and makes a silk trap door from which the adult can emerge.
Flight: One flight from late August to mid-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Palmer\'s agave (Agave palmeri).
Adult Food: Females never feed; males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Canyons with periodic water, open grassy woodland.
Range: Southeastern Arizona to southwestern New Mexico; south into northern Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4G5- Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery OR Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 41 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 26, 2023
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2023
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
Observation date: Sep 25, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2012
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2021
Observation date: Oct 07, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 10, 2019
Observation date: Oct 27, 2019
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 29, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
Observation date: Oct 21, 2012
Submitted by: John Saba
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 21, 2012
Observation date: Sep 06, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 23, 2012
Observation date: Sep 13, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 16, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 30, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 19, 2011
Observation date: Oct 04, 1978
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 03, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 05, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 13, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Fred T. Thorne)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 04, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 05, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 06, 2000
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael E. Toliver, Richard Holland, Steven J. Cary)
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 25, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael E. Toliver, Richard Holland, Steven J. Cary)
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 25, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael E. Toliver, Richard Holland, Steven J. Cary)
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 25, 2007
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