Sonoran Banded-Skipper (Autochton pseudocellus [Coolidge & Clemence])
Wing span: 1 1/2 - 1 7/8 inches (3.8 - 4.3 cm).
Identification: Antenna has a pale band at the base of the club. Wings are dark brown-black; forewing has a medium-wide yellow band. Underside is dark brown with 2-3 darker bands; hindwing has no gray overscaling at the margin, and fringe is checkered.
Life history: Not reported.
Flight: Probably 2 broods from June-September.
Caterpillar hosts: San Pedro ticktrefoil (Desmodium batocaulon) (Fabaceae) in Sonora, Mexico.
Adult food: Probably flower nectar.
Habitat: Permanent streams in oak and pinyon wooded canyons.
Range: Extirpated in southeast Arizona; rare and local in northern Mexico.
Conservation: Extirpated in the United States portion of its range, rare and local in northern Mexico.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management needs: Study habitat requirements in Mexico and consider reintroduction into southeastern Arizona.
References:
Bailowitz, R. A., and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona. Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. 342 pages. Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates. Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Bailowitz, R. A. and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona. Tucson, Ariz.: Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc. Garth, J.S. 1950. Butterflies of Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Natural History Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz. Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. Privately published, Denver, Colo. Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.