Violet-banded Skipper
Common NameViolet-banded Skipper
Scientific NameNyctelius nyctelius
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorsbrown, grayish-brown
HabitatOpen areas, disturbed sites, agricultural fields, forest edges, gardens
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas), Mexico, Central America, South America, West Indies
Host Plantssugarcane, Paspalum, Panicum, Andropogon
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods in warmer temperate areas
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grasses and constructing leaf shelters. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon within a leaf shelter.
Identification TipsLook for its robust body, hooked antennae, dull brown coloration with subtle translucent spots on the forewings, and the distinctive violet sheen on the hindwings (though sometimes faint). Its flight is typically fast and erratic.
Description
A medium-sized, robust skipper with dull brown wings, often exhibiting subtle lighter translucent spots on the forewings and a characteristic violet sheen on the hindwings, especially when fresh.
