Hesperiidae : Pyrginae
Chiomara gundlachi (Skinner & Ramsden, 1924)
Gundlach's Duskywing
Chiomara gundlachi (Skinner & Ramsden, 1924)
Gundlach's Duskywing
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 34-38mm. Note that most of the photos here are of a single male and that colouration varies greatly depending on the angle of the sun. In the shade they appear black. The wings are curved downwards in the manner of Eantis but in sunlight the brown and violet bands with a glossy sheen are distinctive. Females are duller with an obvious line of dark spots crossing the forewing one third of the way along.
Range: Endemic to Cuba. This species was previously thought to be Chiomara mithrax (Möschler, 1879), a South American species, but recent DNA bar-coding and morphological study has shown it to be a separate species. You can read the full paper here.
Status: Rare along forest paths and roadsides. It has been recorded at only four places - Siboney, Santiago de Cuba on the SE coast; Laguna de Piedra, NE of Viñales, Pinar del Rio; at Guanahacabibes also in Pinar del Rio; and just north of Santa Clara city.
Nectar Plants: Bidens pilosa and males take moisture and salts on damp ground.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown in Cuba.
Range: Endemic to Cuba. This species was previously thought to be Chiomara mithrax (Möschler, 1879), a South American species, but recent DNA bar-coding and morphological study has shown it to be a separate species. You can read the full paper here.
Status: Rare along forest paths and roadsides. It has been recorded at only four places - Siboney, Santiago de Cuba on the SE coast; Laguna de Piedra, NE of Viñales, Pinar del Rio; at Guanahacabibes also in Pinar del Rio; and just north of Santa Clara city.
Nectar Plants: Bidens pilosa and males take moisture and salts on damp ground.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown in Cuba.
