North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Texas

Blue-studded Skipper (Sostrata nordica)
JPG -- species photo

Blue-studded Skipper (Sostrata nordica [Evans])

Wing span: 15/16 - 1 3/16 inches (2.4 - 3 cm).

Identification: Upperside is dark brown with a complex, variegated pattern and a scattering of iridescent blue scales. Forewing has 4 small spots near the apex.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: October in South Texas; April-October in Mexico and Central America.

Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.

Adult food: Probably flower nectar.

Habitat: Open subtropical scrub.

Range: Argentina north through tropical America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for a rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 

     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 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.

     

Blue-studded Skipper (Sostrata nordica)
distribution map
map legend

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