Heliopetes macaira
Encyclopedia
Turk's-cap White-Skipper (Heliopetes macaira) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern Texas
, south through Central America
to Paraguay
.
The wingspan
is 32-35 mm. There are several generations with adults on wing from April to November in southern Texas.
The larvae feed on Malvaviscus drummondii. Adults feed on flower nectar.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, south through Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 32-35 mm. There are several generations with adults on wing from April to November in southern Texas.
The larvae feed on Malvaviscus drummondii. Adults feed on flower nectar.
Subspecies
- Heliopetes macaira macaira (Arizona, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela)
- Heliopetes macaira orbigera (Brazil, Bolivia)