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:
Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. University of Oklahoma Press. Norman. 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. Add Toliver, M., Holland, R., and S.J. Cary. 1996. Distributional data for New Mexico Butterflies. Privately published. Albuquerque, N.M.