Frosted Flasher
Astraptes alardus (Stoll, 1790)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Tailless; wings are black with no white spots. Upperside wing bases are iridescent blue. Underside of hindwing has frosted white margin and white fringe.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5.1 - 6.4 cm).
Life History: Adults rest upside down under large leaves. To wait for females, males perch in sunlit openings.
Flight: June and September-October in South Texas; June-December in Mexico and Central America.
Caterpillar Hosts: Not reported.
Adult Food: Flower nectar or bird droppings.
Habitat: Shady tropical woods.
Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico and Cuba. A rare stray north to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Not necessary for a rare stray.
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 1 - 15 of 15 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 17, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: Feb 01, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Dec 01, 2022
Observation date: Feb 14, 2012
Submitted by: sobrien
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2021
Submitted by: amparrish15
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Jan 17, 2020
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Heredia, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 30, 2021
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 22, 2022
Observation date: Nov 05, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 04, 2016
Observation date: Sep 03, 2015
Submitted by: rzurovec
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2015
Observation date: Jul 19, 2011
Submitted by: luthienstar
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 03, 2015
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 26, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004