Euphyes pilatka

Euphyes pilatka
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Euphyes
Species: E. pilatka
Binomial name
Euphyes pilatka
(Edwards, 1867)[1]
Synonyms
  • Hesperia pilatka Edwards, 1867
  • Limochroes palatka
  • Atrytone pilatka
  • Euphyes floridanensis (Plötz, 1883)

Euphyes pilatka, the Palatka skipper or saw-grass skipper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the United States from southeastern Virginia south to peninsular Florida and the Florida Keys, then west along the Gulf Coast to southern Mississippi. Strays can be found up to northern Maryland and southwestern Louisiana.[2]

The wingspan is 45–54 mm. The upperside is orange with black borders and the underside of the hindwings is dull brown. They feed on the flower nectar of various plants, including Pontederia species.

The larvae feed on the leaves of Cladium jamaicensis. They live in shelters of rolled leaves.

Subspecies

  • Euphyes pilatka pilatka
  • Euphyes pilatka klotsi L. Miller, Harvey & J. Miller, 1985[3] (Florida Keys)

References

  1. ↑ Euphyes at funet
  2. ↑ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  3. ↑ "Euphyes pilatka". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 January 2014.


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