top of page

Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)

-Spread-wing Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae)

-Checkered-Skippers, White-Skippers, and Allies (Tribe Pyrgini)

-Genus Antigonus

-Death-mask Spurwing (Antigonus nearchus)


Antigonus nearchus, known as the Death-mask Spurwing, is a striking skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is closely related to the Common Spurwing but is especially notable for the distinctive pattern on the underside of its wings, which can resemble a mask-like or skull-like marking, giving rise to its evocative common name. This species occurs in Mexico and Central America, typically inhabiting forests, forest edges, and shaded clearings. Adults are fast and powerful fliers, often seen darting along vegetation or perching briefly. They may feed on nectar as well as moisture from soil or decaying organic matter.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed on flower nectar and are often encountered visiting flowering plants in sunny clearings, forest edges and other open areas.

Range

  • Antigonus nearchus has a broad Neotropical distribution from Mexico through Central America and south into northern South America, with records extending into Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

  • Around Zihua, Antigonus nearchus would likely be considered occasional to locally uncommon, particularly in areas of tropical dry forest and forest-edge habitat.

Habitat

  • Found in tropical forest, secondary forest, forest edges, clearings and other semi-open habitats.

  • It can occur in both disturbed and relatively natural environments.

  • Around Zihua, dry-forest edges, arroyo vegetation, woodland clearings and areas of dense secondary growth would be particularly promising places to encounter it.

Size

  • Approximately 40–50 mm wingspan, making it a relatively large and robust skipper.

  • Its size and heavy-bodied appearance help distinguish it from several of the smaller Antigonus species.

Death-mask Spurwing - Female

Antigonus nearchus

bottom of page