Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Coahuila Giant-Skipper
Agathymus remingtoni (D. Stallings & Turner, 1958)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Upperside is black; both wings with cream-colored spots in males, larger orange-yellow spots in females. Underside of hindwing is black with gray overscales and a band of whitish spots.
Wing Span: Not reported.
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: Two broods from March-April and August-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla).
Adult Food: Females do not feed; males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Thorn forest and desert hills.
Range: South-central Texas south to central Mexico.
Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR:
Management Needs: Conserve habitat and discourage overgrazing.
Comments: NULL