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
BAMONA Shop
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 56 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 21, 2025
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Texas, Refugio County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 23, 2025
Observation date: Dec 11, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
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: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Kerr 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, Wilson County, United States
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: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Val Verde County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
- 1 of 3
- next ›