Species Detail

Arizona Powdered Skipper

Systasea zampa (W.H. Edwards, 1876)

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Attributes of Systasea zampa

Family: Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Subfamily: Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae)

Identification: Outer margin of hindwing has 2 deep scallops. Upperside is orange-brown with darker olive-brown areas; forewing has a transparent median band that is broken below the cell.

Life history: To await females, males perch all day in gulches.

Flight: Several broods from April-October.

Wing span: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Possibly various plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Canyons, washes, and other openings in desert, thorn forest, and brushland.

Range: Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.