North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Manuel's Skipper (Polygonus manueli)

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Manuel's Skipper (Polygonus manueli [Bell & W. P. Comstock])

Wing span: 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches (3.8 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Wings are dark brown. Upperside of forewing has a blue sheen at the base and reflective white spots. Underside of hindwing has reddish-brown areas.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: August-September in South Texas, January-October in tropics.

Caterpillar hosts: Shrub legume Muellera moniliformis.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Tidal scrub.

Range: Argentina north through central America to Mexico and the West Indies. Rare stray to South Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may 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.

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.

Manuel's Skipper (Polygonus manueli)

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