Diet

• Adults feed on flower nectar.

• The caterpillars feed on palms (Arecaceae). Acrocomia aculeata is a documented food plant, and the larvae construct shelters on the palm foliage.

• The caterpillar has a remarkable appearance: it covers itself with white silk, creating an appearance somewhat resembling a patch of fungus growing on the leaf.

Range

• Carystus lota has a broad Neotropical range, extending from Mexico through Central America and into northern and central South America.

• It is occasionally sighted in the Zihua area, particularly where palms and tropical forest vegetation provide suitable habitat.

Habitat

• The Argon Skipper occurs in tropical forest, woodland and forest-edge environments, from low elevations into foothill habitats.

• In the Zihua region, look for it around palm-rich forest, shaded trails, forest edges, stream valleys and areas of dense tropical vegetation.

Description

• Carystus lota is a medium-sized, robust skipper, predominantly brown with relatively subdued pale markings.

• The underside of the hindwing is particularly useful for identification, with dark spots arranged in a characteristic pattern across the wing. This feature helps distinguish it from similar brown Hesperiini.

• Its rapid flight and tendency to remain close to vegetation can make adults difficult to follow once they disappear into the forest.