Purple-washed Skipper
Panoquina lucas (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with some pale spots; male forewing has an elongated spot in the cell. Underside of hindwing is dull brown with a straight line of blue or white spots. Female has a blue or purple sheen.
Wing Span: 1 3/16 - 1 3/4 inches (3 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: Several broods; August-December in South Texas, throughout the year in Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), rice (Oryza sativa), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), and other grasses.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including that from Lantana.
Habitat: Openings in subtropical scrub, forest edges, and nearby fields.
Range: Argentina north through tropical America and the West Indies to northern Mexico. A regular stray north to the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas; rarely to central Texas and southeast Arizona.
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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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 27 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 11, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 03, 2023
Observation date: Feb 06, 2007
Submitted by: Jean-Serge
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Jan 04, 2018
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Dec 17, 2014
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Dec 09, 2019
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 30, 2019
Observation date: Oct 27, 2015
Submitted by: Martin Reid
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 16, 2019
Observation date: Nov 26, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Dec 04, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 16, 2017
Observation date: Nov 03, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 25, 2016
Observation date: Mar 16, 2015
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Dec 14, 2015
Observation date: Nov 15, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Mar 26, 2014
Observation date: Oct 30, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Dec 08, 2010
Submitted by: Heron Tilapia
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 24, 2007
Submitted by: Gary Jue (Gary Jue)
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen (Kelly Mortensen)
Verified date: Jul 24, 2009
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 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hidalgo 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: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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