Hesperiidae : Eudaminae
Polygonus leo (Gmelin, [1790])
Hammock Skipper
Polygonus leo (Gmelin, [1790])
Hammock Skipper
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 52-58mm. A large skipper with dark upperwings and with three large rectangular spots and three small sub-apical spots on the forewings. There is a purplish tinge to the wings and blue-gray hairs on the thorax. Settles on the underside of leaves. The upperside recalls Cuban Rhinthon Rhinthon cubana but this is much darker underneath and Potrillo Skipper Cabares potrillo is similar on the underside but the upper white spots are much smaller. There is also more than a passing resemblance to the similar-sized Florida Purplewing Eunica tatila.
Range: Throughout the Caribbean and from southern USA to Argentina in South America.
Status: Widespread throughout Cuba. Found in forest rides and adjacent flowery meadows.
Nectar Plants: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Morinda royoc, Pluchea odorata, Ageratum conyzoides, Callicarpa americana, Lantana sp., Bidens pilosa, Wedelia rugosa, Cordia curavassica and others.
Larval Foodplants: Piscidia erythrina, Piscidia piscipula and Lonchocarpus.
Range: Throughout the Caribbean and from southern USA to Argentina in South America.
Status: Widespread throughout Cuba. Found in forest rides and adjacent flowery meadows.
Nectar Plants: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Morinda royoc, Pluchea odorata, Ageratum conyzoides, Callicarpa americana, Lantana sp., Bidens pilosa, Wedelia rugosa, Cordia curavassica and others.
Larval Foodplants: Piscidia erythrina, Piscidia piscipula and Lonchocarpus.
Egg
Larva
Foodplants and Habitat
