Purple-washed Skipper
Common NamePurple-washed Skipper
Scientific NamePanoquina sylvicola
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsbrown, purple, white
HabitatOpen areas, forest edges, clearings, disturbed areas, often near host grasses.
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas), Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America and the Caribbean.
Host Plantssugarcane, Paspalum, Panicum, various grasses
Flight PeriodMultiple broods year-round in tropical regions; typically spring to fall in temperate parts of its range.
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on host grasses, larvae feed on leaves, and pupation occurs in a silken shelter.
Identification TipsLook for the dark brown wings with a noticeable purplish sheen on the hindwings and a pattern of small white spots. Its robust body and hooked antennae are characteristic of skippers.
Description
A medium-sized skipper with a robust body, dark brown wings, and a distinctive purplish iridescence on the hindwings, adorned with small white spots.
