Poling's Giant-Skipper
Agathymus polingi (Skinner, 1905)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Upperside is brown-black with orange-yellow wing bases and forewing costa. Both wings have dull orange-yellow bands, which are wider in the female. Underside of hindwing is mottled gray with a complete pale band.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: From early morning to noon males perch near host plants to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the host and fall to the base of the plant. A young caterpillar crawls to a leaf tip and burrows inside where it eats pulp and then hibernates. In the spring the caterpillar makes a new burrow in a leaf base where it feeds on sap until ceasing activity for the summer. Before pupating, the caterpillar enlarges the opening of its burrow and makes a silk trap door from which the adult can emerge.
Flight: One brood from September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Schott\'s agave (Agave schottii) and Toumey\'s agave (A. toumeyana).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Dry hills and open woodland.
Range: Southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR: 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: Preserve habitat and discourage overgrazing.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 08, 2020
Submitted by: lconrad6853@gma...
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 17, 2019
Observation date: Oct 25, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (P Savage-M Smith)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 13, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 12, 1964
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Breedlove)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 08, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (H. A. Freeman)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004