Obscure Skipper
Common NameObscure Skipper
Scientific NamePanoquina obscura
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white
HabitatOpen grassy areas, sugarcane fields, disturbed sites, roadsides, forest edges
Geographic RangeSouthern Florida, Gulf Coast states (USA), Mexico, Central America, Caribbean
Host Plantssugarcane, rice, various grasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods from spring to fall in northern parts of its range
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grass blades and constructing leaf shelters. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon within a leaf roll.
Identification TipsKey features include its overall dark brown coloration, the presence of small, often indistinct, white hyaline spots on the forewing, and the typical robust skipper body and hooked antennae. Careful examination of spot patterns is needed to distinguish it from similar *Panoquina* species.
Description
A small to medium-sized, robust skipper with a hairy, brownish body and wings. The wings are uniformly dark brown, typically marked with a few small, translucent white spots on the forewing.
