North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Arizona

Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)
JPG -- species photo

Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 7/8 - 1 3/16 inches (2.2 - 3 cm).

Identification: Upperside is orange-brown to dark brown; each wing has black streaks on the outer half and an irregular median band of small transparent spots. Fringes are checkered.

Life history: To find receptive females, males patrol close to the ground in low spots. Caterpillars eat leaves; fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: Several broods from March-November in Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Several mallows including globemallows (Sphaeralcea) and violet sida (Sida filipes).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Open thorn forests and scrub, washes, gulches, flower gardens.

Range: Southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west Texas south to northern Mexico. A rare stray to southern Oklahoma and northern Louisiana.

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 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.

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:

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.
Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus)
distribution map
map legend

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