Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Golden-headed Scallopwing
Staphylus ceos (W.H. Edwards, 1882)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Uppersides of head and palpi are orange. Wings are sooty black; forewing has very small, translucent white spots near the apex. Margins of hindwing are barely scalloped.
Wing Span: 15/16 - 1 1/8 inches (2.4 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Adults fly near the ground. To find females, males patrol in valleys and gulches.
Flight: Many flights from April-December in Texas; April-September northward.
Caterpillar Hosts: Fremont\'s goosefoot (Chenopodium fremontii).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Valleys, washes, desert canyons.
Range: Southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west and South Texas south to Durango, Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL