Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Mangrove Skipper
Phocides pigmalion (Cramer, 1779)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Eudaminae
Identification: Wings are brown-black; hindwing has iridescent blue streaks both above and below.
Wing Span: 1 7/8 - 2 3/4 inches (4.8 - 7 cm).
Life History: Flight is fast and powerful. Males perch to seek females, who deposit eggs singly on the host plant. Caterpillars eat leaves and live in shelters of silked-together leaves.
Flight: November-August in southern Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: American mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
Adult Food: Nectar including that of mangrove, shepherd\'s needle, citrus, and bougainvillaea flowers.
Habitat: Coastal mangrove thickets and openings.
Range: Both coasts of peninsular Florida and the Keys south through the West Indies and Mexico to Argentina. Strayed to coastal South Carolina.
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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!

Hoodies and t-shirts in two designs!


Advertise with us!

Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.