North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria)
JPG -- species photo

Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria [Herrich-Schäffer])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).

Identification: Fringes are checkered; male forewing has a long stigma. Upperside is brown with an orange tint; forewing has small white spots. Underside is dark brown with gray overscales; forewing repeats upperside pattern but with larger spots, hindwing has many small, white spots.

Life history: Adults are most active in the morning, and spend the rest of the day in shady places.

Flight: One brood from June-September.

Caterpillar hosts: Probably muhly (Muhlenbergia emersleyi) in the grass family (Poaceae).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Open woodland, oak canyons.

Range: Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south into Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

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:


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.

Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria)
distribution map
map legend

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