North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Baracoa Skipper (Polites baracoa)
JPG -- species photo

Baracoa Skipper (Polites baracoa [Lucas])

Wing span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Identification: Upperside is dark brown; forewing with orange bars; male forewing with a very short stigma. Underside is brown; forewing markings repeated; hindwing with a row of pale spots.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: Several broods from March-November.

Caterpillar hosts: Grasses.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Grassy places near marshes and streams.

Range: Peninsular Florida, neighboring areas of south Georgia and southern Alabama, and the West Indies.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns 
     Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

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

Baracoa Skipper (Polites baracoa)
distribution map
map legend

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