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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 261 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 29, 2014
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 17, 2014
Observation date: Sep 15, 2013
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 23, 2013
Observation date: Sep 10, 2013
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 14, 2013
Observation date: Aug 03, 2013
Submitted by: joyceg
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 22, 2013
Observation date: Jul 15, 2013
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Texas, Real County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 15, 2013
Observation date: Jul 14, 2013
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 14, 2013
Observation date: Jul 13, 2013
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 13, 2013
Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 21, 2013
Observation date: May 21, 2013
Submitted by: Brett Budach
Region: Miami County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 22, 2013
Observation date: May 13, 2013
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: May 14, 2013
Observation date: Aug 26, 2012
Submitted by: Brett Budach
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 19, 2013
Observation date: Aug 10, 2012
Submitted by: gunhilda
Region: Payne County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2012
Observation date: Aug 21, 2011
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 30, 2011
Observation date: Jul 30, 2005
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 03, 2005
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: May 24, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Arterburn)
Region: Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (John M. Nelson)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: May 24, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Arterburn)
Region: Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (John M. Nelson)
Verified date: Aug 03, 2010
Observation date: Sep 13, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Texas, Martin County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 12, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Hansford County, Texas, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 13, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Texas, Terry County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 19, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Texas, Lipscomb County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 08, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Bailey County, Texas, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 13, 2009
Submitted by: aahewetson (Anthony Hewetson)
Region: Gaines County, Texas, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
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