California Giant-Skipper
Agathymus stephensi (Skinner, 1912)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Fringes are distinctly checkered. Upperside is brown-black with yellowish scales at the wing bases and cream-colored spots. Hindwing spot band is curved and there is usually a spot in the cell. Underside of hindwing is mottled gray with irregular bands of cream-colored spots.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 1/4 inches (5.1 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: The adults roost on bushes, the males usually in canyon bottoms. 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 make 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-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Desert agave (Agave deserti).
Adult Food: Females do not feed; males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Sonoran desert.
Range: The Colorado Desert in Riverside and San Diego counties, California; Baja California Norte.
Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR: G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).
Management Needs: Conserve habitat and discourage overgrazing.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 38 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 07, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2021
Observation date: Oct 24, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 29, 2020
Observation date: Oct 14, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 26, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 14, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 15, 2019
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 15, 2019
Observation date: Oct 11, 2017
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 20, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 02, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 02, 2017
Observation date: Oct 02, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 02, 2017
Observation date: Oct 06, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 15, 2016
Observation date: Sep 29, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 12, 2014
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 22, 2014
Observation date: Sep 28, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2014
Observation date: Sep 29, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 30, 2013
Observation date: Sep 28, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 06, 2013
Observation date: Sep 29, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 06, 2013
Observation date: Oct 08, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kojiro Shiraiwa)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Oct 04, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Oct 11, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Oct 01, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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