Nysa Roadside-Skipper
Amblyscirtes nysa W.H. Edwards, 1877
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Fringes are checkered black and white. Upperside is black with 3-5 small white spots on the forewing tip. Underside of hindwing is patterned with patches of brown, gray, and black.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 3/16 inches (1.9 - 3 cm).
Life History: Adults fly very close to the ground and often rest on bare spots. Males perch at the bottom of gulches to await receptive females. Females lay eggs randomly on the host plants, usually in the late afternoon. Caterpillars eat leaves and make shelters of rolled and tied leaves, then pupate in a silk-lined leaf case in litter at the base of a grass clump.
Flight: Three broods from March-October; several broods throughout the year in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), crab grass (Digitaria sanguinalis), bristlegrass (Setaria glauca), barnyard grass (Echinochloa pungens), and green spangletop (Leptochloa dubia).
Adult Food: Nectar from low-growing flowers including blue spiraea, marigold, lima bean, and cantaloupe.
Habitat: Open areas including dry rocky ravines, woodland edges, desert grasslands, yards, and gardens.
Range: Southeastern Nebraska, Kansas, and western Missouri; south through Oklahoma and Texas to northern Mexico; west to southeast Colorado, southern New Mexico, and southern Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 245 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 15, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 04, 2020
Observation date: Mar 08, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Mar 09, 2019
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: dolores.gladtid...
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: Janeal W. Thompson
Region: Prowers County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Mar 27, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: Centriken
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2018
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: KS bird-man
Region: Saline County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2018
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: KS bird-man
Region: Saline County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2018
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: bauersteven
Region: Allen County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2009
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2018
Submitted by: Suntesha Wustrack
Region: Butler County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 10, 2018
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: Greg Sievert
Region: Lyon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 07, 2018
Observation date: May 12, 2018
Submitted by: Alexis Powell
Region: Chase County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 30, 2018
Observation date: May 16, 2018
Submitted by: Greg Sievert
Region: Chase County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 20, 2018
Observation date: Feb 23, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 21, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 05, 2017
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: greenecycle
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
Observation date: Jul 31, 2017
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, United States, Webb County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 01, 2017
Observation date: May 15, 2017
Submitted by: Eric Eaton
Region: Prowers County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2017
Observation date: Mar 25, 2017
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 28, 2016
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: ddodd
Region: Ellis County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: ddodd
Verified date: Sep 16, 2016
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: ddodd
Region: Chase County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: ddodd
Verified date: Sep 16, 2016
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 07, 2016
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