Guava Skipper
Phocides palemon
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Fringes are white. Upperside is black with green rays leading from the wing bases. Underside is black with a red bar at the costal edge.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/2 inches (4.2 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on the upperside of terminal leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars spend the day in leaf shelters and eat leaves during the night.
Flight: Many broods in February, April, and June-December in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Guava (Psidium species).
Adult Food: Presumably flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical woods, city gardens.
Range: The lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas south through Mexico and Central America to Argentina.
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 - 13 of 13 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 09, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 16, 2016
Observation date: Nov 03, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 16, 2016
Observation date: Jul 10, 2015
Submitted by: ajijic1936
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 17, 2015
Observation date: Aug 03, 2014
Submitted by: rgarzau
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2014
Observation date: Jan 09, 2011
Submitted by: cpcdolan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Feb 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 26, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (NABA - Mexico count for the State of Jalisco)
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (NABA Mexico Count)
Verified date: Dec 28, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Sep 11, 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: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
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: Cameron County, Texas, United States
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