False Duskywing
Gesta invisus (Butler & H. Druce, 1872)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Upperside brown-black with darker bands; forewing with blue-gray submarginal band and a dark patch overlapping the cell.
Wing Span: 15/16 - 1 3/8 inches (2.4 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Adults stay near the host plants, where females lay eggs. Caterpillars rest during the day in leaf nests and come out at night to feed on leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Four broods from April-November in South Texas; all year southward.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa and I. lindheimeriana) in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical open areas including thornscrub, dry riverbeds, and abandoned fields.
Range: Argentina north through tropical America to the West Indies and South Texas. A stray to east Texas.
Conservation: Monitor populations in South Texas, and take action if necessary.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may 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 - 24 of 54 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 04, 2019
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Real County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: Oct 27, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Colorado County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 28, 2018
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Edwards County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 01, 2017
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Edwards County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 01, 2017
Observation date: Oct 15, 2016
Submitted by: philip.woodscc@...
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2016
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: tripp.davenport...
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2016
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 21, 2013
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Wanda Smith (Wanda Smith)
Region: Texas, San Jacinto County, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 24, 2008
Submitted by: Wanda Smith (Wanda Smith)
Region: Texas, San Jacinto County, United States
Verified by: lorispencer (Lori Spencer)
Verified date: Apr 08, 2009
Observation date: Oct 17, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Diane and Hugh Wedgeworth)
Region: Texas, Kenedy County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Derek Muschalek)
Region: DeWitt County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Dec 28, 2007
Observation date: Oct 14, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 17, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Aug 27, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hugh Wedgeworth)
Region: Texas, Newton County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2006
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Kendall County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Austin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Maverick County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, United States, Wilson County
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Real County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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