Hesperiidae : Hesperiinae
Rhinthon cubana (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Cuban Rhinthon
Rhinthon cubana (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)
Cuban Rhinthon
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 45mm. Sexes similar. The underside of the wings are very dark with pale scaling, with four small white dots on the under-hindwing and three small off-set white sub-apical spot on the forewing. On the upperside forewing there are four prominent white marks in addition the three white sub-apical spots. The head and front of the thorax have a covering of blue hairs.
Range: Southern USA through South America and many of the Antillean islands.
Status: In Cuba it was thought to be rare being known only from the far east of the island and near Camagüey. But we found larvae in the Escambray mountains in 2017 and recent discoveries near Habana in 2019 and 2020 (Álvarez, Corso & Acosta, 2020) indicate that in fact it is much more widespread than previously thought but just overlooked. We have still never seen an adult but larvae are not hard to find where the foodplants Maranta and Canna occur.
Nectar Plants: Unknown.
Larval Foodplants: Maranta arundinacea, Hedychium and ornamental Canna sp. feeding on the leaves.
Range: Southern USA through South America and many of the Antillean islands.
Status: In Cuba it was thought to be rare being known only from the far east of the island and near Camagüey. But we found larvae in the Escambray mountains in 2017 and recent discoveries near Habana in 2019 and 2020 (Álvarez, Corso & Acosta, 2020) indicate that in fact it is much more widespread than previously thought but just overlooked. We have still never seen an adult but larvae are not hard to find where the foodplants Maranta and Canna occur.
Nectar Plants: Unknown.
Larval Foodplants: Maranta arundinacea, Hedychium and ornamental Canna sp. feeding on the leaves.
Larva
Parasites
Foodplants and Habitat
