Home
Species Detail
Florida Duskywing
Ephyriades brunnea (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Attributes of Ephyriades brunneaFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) Identification: Male upperside is black with a silky sheen and a circle of white transparent spots near the apex. Female upperside is brown with dark mottling and outer margins; forewing has more and larger transparent spots than the male. Life history: To wait for females, males perch in full sunlight about 1 1/2 feet above the ground on bare twigs. Eggs are deposited on leaves and young shoots of the host plants. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest in leaf shelters. Flight: Many flights throughout the year in southern Florida. Wing span: 1 5/8 - 1 7/8 inches (4.2 - 4.8 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Key byrsonima (Byrsonima lucida) and Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra). Adult food: Nectar from flowers of low plants and flowering shrubs including Bidens alba, Croton granduosus, and Lantana involucrata. Habitat: Tropical pine-Sabal palm scrub. Range: Tropical southern Florida and the Keys; the West Indies. A rare stray to Honduras. Conservation: Monitor Florida populations and take action if necessary. NatureServe Global Status: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Ephyriades brunnea |
  |  |
