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Species Detail

White-barred Skipper

Atrytonopsis pittacus (W.H. Edwards, 1882)

JPG -- species photo

Attributes of Atrytonopsis pittacus


Family: Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)

Identification: Upperside is brown with green-gray overscaling; forewing has large pale spots; hindwing has 4 clear square spots in a straight line. Underside is brown with purple-gray overscaling; markings resemble those on the upperside.

Life history: Adults have a fast flight. Males perch on hilltops all day to wait for receptive females.

Flight: One brood from March-October; a weak second brood in the fall along the United States-Mexico border.

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Thorny desert grassland and open oak woodland.

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

Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.

NatureServe Global Status: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).

Management needs: None reported.

Documented Records for Atrytonopsis pittacus



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