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Species Detail
Tropical Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha arene (W.H. Edwards, 1871)
Attributes of Ancyloxypha areneFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Identification: Wings are orange. Upperside has a narrow black border on both wings. Underside of hindwing is golden orange with a pale ray running from the base through the cell to the outer margin. Life history: To find receptive females, males patrol with a weak flight over grasses in valley bottoms. Flight: April-October in South Texas, March-December in Mexico and Central America. Wing span: 3/4 - 1 1/16 inches (1.9 - 2.7 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Water bentgrass (Polypogon simiverticillata). Adult food: Flower nectar from low growing plants. Habitat: Damp grassy areas near streams, ponds, marshes, and ditches. Range: Southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west-central Texas south through tropical America to Costa Rica. Strays to northeastern New Mexico and South 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. | Documented Records for Ancyloxypha arene
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