Green-backed Ruby-eye
Perichares philetes (Gmelin, [1790])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Top surface of the thorax is iridescent green. Wings are dark brown; fringes are checkered black and white. Upperside of forewing has transparent pale yellow spots; male with a curved gray stigma. Underside of hindwing is mottled dark brown, purple, and gray.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 1 11/16 inches (3.9 - 4.3 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs on both sides of grass leaves; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: November-December in South Texas; many broods from December-January in Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), bamboo, and other grasses.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Flower gardens in Texas; fields and forest edges in the tropics.
Range: Paraguay north through Central America and the West Indies to northern Mexico. A periodic stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Not required for a periodic stray.
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 - 20 of 20 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 22, 2007
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Jan 14, 2014
Submitted by: Shelley Rutkin
Region: Belize District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
Observation date: Dec 13, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
Observation date: Nov 26, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 03, 2017
Observation date: Sep 15, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: M. Reith
Verified date: Mar 23, 2015
Observation date: Dec 10, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 21, 2014
Observation date: Dec 06, 2013
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Dec 09, 2013
Observation date: Nov 18, 2013
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 18, 2013
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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: 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: Nov 07, 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: Oct 26, 2004
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: 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: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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