Violet-banded Skipper
Nyctelius nyctelius (Latreille, [1824])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is black-brown with transparent white spots and a pair of spots in the forewing cell. Underside of hindwing is pale brown with a violet overlay and 2 dark bands; leading edge has a small dark spot.
Wing Span: 1 1/16 - 1 1/2 inches (2.7 - 3.9 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars eat leaves and make leaf nests for shelter.
Flight: Several broods; from May-December in South Texas, throughout the year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses including sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), corn (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical thorn forest.
Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies. A periodic stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley, central Texas, southeastern Arizona, and southern California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 33 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 11, 2022
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 02, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Dec 04, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jan 23, 2020
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2008
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 25, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: Markus M
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Nov 28, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Oct 25, 2017
Submitted by: ursgeiser
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 21, 2014
Submitted by: Teresa Jacobs
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 09, 2017
Observation date: Nov 03, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2016
Observation date: Nov 03, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2016
Observation date: Jun 14, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Aug 01, 2014
Observation date: Dec 26, 2013
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Mar 28, 2014
Observation date: Sep 04, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Bailowitz)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jan 01, 2011
Submitted by: cpcdolan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Feb 01, 2011
Observation date: Jan 01, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Christopher J. Durden)
Region: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Jan 24, 2008
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: Oct 23, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ro Wauer)
Region: Texas, Victoria County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: Oct 16, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: Oct 06, 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: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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