North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Texas

Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python)
JPG -- species photo

Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).

Identification: Forewings are long and pointed; fringes checkered. Upperside is brown; forewing with yellowish translucent spots, hindwing with 1-4 tiny pale spots at the end of the cell. Underside of forewing is the same as the upperside; hindwing is mottled light and dark brown with small pale spots.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: One flight from April-July in southern Arizona, perhaps several flights elsewhere.

Caterpillar hosts: Grasses.

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including yellow composites, Verbena, and Astragalus.

Habitat: Middle elevations in the mountains, open woodland.

Range: Southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west Texas.

Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.

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: None reported.

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.

Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 
     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 

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:

Neck, R.W. 1996. A Field Guide to Butterflies of Texas. Gulf Publishing Co., 
     Houston, Texas.

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.
     
Tveten, J. and Tveten, G.  1996.  Butterflies of Houston & Southeast Texas.
     Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, TX.  292 pp.
     
Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python)
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page