Eight-spotted Longtail
Polythrix octomaculata (Sepp, [1844])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Females have long hindwing tails; males have shorter tails and no costal fold. Wings are brown; forewing with only 1 submarginal brown spot near the rear of the wing. Spot near the base of forewing underside is faint or absent; underside hindwing of female often has a smeared white patch.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 13/16 inches (3.5 - 4.6 cm).
Life History: Not reported. When inactive, adults perch under large leaves.
Flight: Many flights from March-November in Mexico; March and August-October in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Tree and shrub legumes and Pterocarpus.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Shady areas and streams in tropical forest or scrub.
Range: Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico and Haiti. Occasionally strays to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Not necessary for a rare 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 - 10 of 10 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 14, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Dec 28, 2014
Submitted by: John P Gorey
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Nov 08, 2013
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Olancho, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 10, 2013
Observation date: Feb 12, 2013
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 19, 2013
Observation date: Sep 29, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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: Oct 27, 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: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, 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