Nysa Roadside-Skipper
Common NameNysa Roadside-Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes nysa
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, white
HabitatDry, rocky canyons, arroyos, hillsides, open woodlands, desert scrub
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado) and northern Mexico
Host PlantsBouteloua spp. (grama grasses), Muhlenbergia spp.
Flight PeriodMarch to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, often constructing shelters, and typically overwinter as pupae or mature larvae.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, dusky appearance, mottled grey-brown ventral hindwing pattern with a distinctive white patch near the base, and its preference for dry, rocky habitats.
Description
A small, dusky skipper with a hairy, grey-brown body. Its wings are mottled grey and brown, with indistinct lighter patches, particularly on the ventral hindwing.
