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Purple-washed Skipper
Panoquina lucas (Fabricius, 1793)
Attributes of Panoquina lucasFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Identification: Upperside is dark brown with some pale spots; male forewing has an elongated spot in the cell. Underside of hindwing is dull brown with a straight line of blue or white spots. Female has a blue or purple sheen. Life history: Caterpillars feed on leaves. Flight: Several broods; August-December in South Texas, throughout the year in Mexico. Wing span: 1 3/16 - 1 3/4 inches (3 - 4.5 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), rice (Oryza sativa), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), and other grasses. Adult food: Flower nectar including that from Lantana. Habitat: Openings in subtropical scrub, forest edges, and nearby fields. Range: Argentina north through tropical America and the West Indies to northern Mexico. A regular stray north to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas; rarely to central Texas and southeast Arizona. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Panoquina lucas
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