North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Deva Skipper (Atrytonopsis deva)
JPG -- species photo

Deva Skipper (Atrytonopsis deva [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Fringe on forewing is brown; on hindwing it is whitish. Upperside of wing is reddish brown; forewing with a few pale spots; male forewing with a tiny stigma. Underside of hindwing is brown with gray overscaling and a faint dark bar across the middle of the wing.

Life history: Males patrol to find receptive females.

Flight: One brood from April-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Probably various grasses.

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including ragwort (Senecio) and thistles (Cirsium).

Habitat: Mountain canyons and open desert woodland.

Range: Local colonies in Arizona, western New Mexico, and northern Mexico.

Conservation: Populations should be conserved wherever found.

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.

Deva Skipper (Atrytonopsis deva)
distribution map
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