Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Broken Silverdrop
Epargyreus exadeus (Cramer, 1779)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Eudaminae
Identification: Wings are dark brown. Forewing has small separate amber spots. Hindwing with small separate silver spots and an obscure pale postmedian line.
Wing Span: 1 15/16 - 2 7/16 inches (4.9 - 6.2 cm).
Life History: Adults perch upside down under leaves at night and on hot or cloudy days. To seek females males perch on branches and tall weeds, and occasionally patrol. Females lay single eggs near the host trees, and the caterpillars must find their proper host. Young caterpillars live in a folded leaf shelter; older ones live in a nest of silked-together leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: October in South Texas, many flights from May-November in Mexico and Central America.
Caterpillar Hosts: Legumes including Cassia and Phaseolus.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical scrub or forests and nearby edges.
Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas, southern Arizona, and southern California.
Conservation: Not required for a rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes: Formerly in the subfamily Pyrginae.
Get your BAMONA Gear!

Hoodies and t-shirts in two designs!


Advertise with us!

Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.