Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Chestnut-marked Skipper
Thespieus macareus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with large transparent white spots on both wings. Underside of hindwing is variegated white, brown, gray, and red.
Wing Span: 1 5/16 - 1 1/2 inches (3.4 - 3.9 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: Several broods; from July-November in South Texas, February-November in Mexico and Central America.
Caterpillar Hosts: Not reported.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical thorn scrub.
Range: Venezuela north through Colombia and Central America to central Mexico. An occasional stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Not required 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