Arizona Giant-Skipper
Agathymus aryxna (Dyar, 1905)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Upperside dark brown with both wings suffused with orange, especially at bases and postmedian bands of small orange-yellow spots separated by black veins. Spot bands are wider in the female. Underside of hindwing is gray with a vague lighter band.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 3/8 inches (5.0 - 6.1 cm).
Life History: Adults have a noisy, fast flight. From early morning to noon males perch near host plants to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the host and fall to the base of the plant. A young caterpillar crawls to a leaf tip and burrows inside where it eats pulp and then hibernates. In the spring the caterpillar makes a new burrow in a leaf base where it feeds on sap until becoming inactive for the summer. Before pupating, the caterpillar enlarges the opening of its burrow and makes a silk trap door from which the adult can emerge.
Flight: One flight from late August to mid-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Palmer\'s agave (Agave palmeri).
Adult Food: Females never feed; males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Canyons with periodic water, open grassy woodland.
Range: Southeastern Arizona to southwestern New Mexico; south into northern Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4G5- Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery OR Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 42 of 42 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael E. Toliver, Richard Holland, Steven J. Cary)
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 25, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: Jan 01, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Roever)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: May 11, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Durango, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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