Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

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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