Guava Skipper
Phocides polybius (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Eudaminae
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
Alternate Scientific Names:
Phocides palemon
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 31 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 17, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 16, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Feb 26, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Nov 07, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 18, 2022
Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Oct 05, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Nov 05, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: gersontun
Region: Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Suchitepéquez, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
Observation date: Jun 03, 2019
Submitted by: Markus M
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 20, 2019
Observation date: Jan 11, 2019
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 11, 2019
Observation date: Nov 29, 2018
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 11, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Staceymarie
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 14, 2018
Observation date: Nov 11, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 14, 2018
Observation date: Dec 05, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
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
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