Attributes of Phocides palemon

Guava Skipper
Phocides palemon

Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Fringes are white. Upperside is black with green rays leading from the wing bases. Underside is black with a red bar at the costal edge.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/2 inches (4.2 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on the upperside of terminal leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars spend the day in leaf shelters and eat leaves during the night.
Flight: Many broods in February, April, and June-December in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Guava (Psidium species).
Adult Food: Presumably flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical woods, city gardens.
Range: The lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south through Mexico and Central America to Argentina.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes:

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Observation Date Submitter Region Verified Datesort icon
January 09, 2011 cpcdolan Hidalgo County, Texas, United States February 01, 2011 Details
September 26, 2006 legacy.reporter (NABA - Mexico count for the State of Jalisco) Jalisco, Mexico December 28, 2007 Details
October 16, 2006 legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler) Tamaulipas, Mexico September 11, 2007 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Sinaloa, Mexico December 31, 2004 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Tamaulipas, Mexico December 31, 2004 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Nuevo Leon, Mexico December 31, 2004 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Hidalgo County, Texas, United States December 31, 2004 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Cameron County, Texas, United States December 31, 2004 Details
January 01, 1950 legacy.reporter Texas, Starr County, United States December 31, 2004 Details