North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Sunrise Skipper (Adopaeoides prittwitzi)

Sunrise Skipper (Adopaeoides prittwitzi [Plötz])

Wing span: 7/8 - 1 inch (2.2 - 2.5 cm).

Identification: Upperside is orange, with dark borders and dark veins on both wings. Underside is yellow-orange; hindwing has a white stripe from the base to the outer margin.

Life history: To find females, males patrol with a weak flight over flowers and grasses at springs.

Flight: Two broods from May-October.

Caterpillar hosts: Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) in the grass family (Poaceae).

Adult food: Nectar of watercress, Bidens, and other flowers.

Habitat: Native upland marshes and springs.

Range: Southern Arizona, southwest Texas, and Mexico.

Conservation: Populations should be conserved wherever found. Care should be taken not to drain springs or to change the integrity of the habitat.

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

Sunrise Skipper (Adopaeoides prittwitzi)
distribution map
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