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| Mercurial Skipper - Proteides mercurius (Fabricius, 1787 ) |
Click on image above to enlarge
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Family: Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Subfamily: Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae )
Identification: Head and thorax are bright orange above; forewings are elongate. Upperside of wings is brown with golden orange at the bases. Underside is chestnut brown with white frosting on outer edges; center of hindwing has an indistinct white mark.
Wing span: 2 1/4 - 2 3/4 inches (5.8 - 7 cm)
Life history: Adults bask with their wings spread open. Males perch to find females. Caterpillars rest in leaf shelters and come out at night to eat leaves.
Habitat: Near streams in lowland tropical forests, particularly in edges and openings.
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Caterpillar hosts: Tree and vine legumes including senna (Cassia), cow pea (Vigna), and Muellera.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
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Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico and the West Indies. Strays to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.
10002
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