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

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