North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia)
JPG -- species photo

Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia [H. A. Freeman])

Wing span: 15/16 - 1 1/8 inches (2.4 - 2.9 cm).

Identification: Upperside is dark brown; forewing has 2-5 pale spots; hindwing is unmarked. Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown and veins are the same color, not paler.

Life history: To await females, males perch all day in grassy swales.

Flight: Throughout the year in South Texas, April-October elsewhere.

Caterpillar hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Stream banks, grassy ditches, moist grassy places, fields, open areas in scrub woodlands, lawns, flower gardens.

Range: South Texas south to central Mexico.

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:


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.

Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia)
distribution map
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