More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Butterflies of Zihuatanejo
SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)
-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)
-Skippers (Family Hesperiidae)
-Spread-wing Skippers (Subfamily Pyrginae)
-Purplish Tufted-Skipper (Nisoniades bromias)
The Purplish Tufted-Skipper (Nisoniades bromias), also known as the Bromias Tufted-Skipper, is a Neotropical butterfly belonging to the Hesperiidae family and the Pyrginae subfamily. This small, robust skipper is primarily identified by its dark, mottled upperside, which often exhibits a faint purplish sheen under specific light, a common trait among the Nisoniades genus. Its distribution extends from Western Mexico through Central America to Panama.
Diet
Caterpillars feed on plants in the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae), particularly Ipomoea species.
Adults take nectar from small flowers.
Range
Nisoniades bromias occurs from western Mexico through Central America to Panama.
Guerrero is within its range, and it occurs in the Zihua area.
Habitat
It is associated mainly with tropical and subtropical lowland habitats.
It occurs in forest edges, clearings, woodland openings, scrub, and other sunny areas where its larval host vines grow.
It is particularly likely along disturbed vegetation and trails with morning-glories and related vines.
Description
A small, dark skipper with a wingspan of roughly 25–37 mm.
The wings are predominantly dark brown to nearly black, with a mottled appearance.
The forewing has small pale or whitish subapical spots, which provide useful identification marks.
The underside is generally dark and subdued, providing camouflage when the butterfly rests with its wings closed.
Purplish-tufted Skipper
Nisoniades bromias
