Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Sandy Skipper (Zopyrion sandace)

The Sandy Skipper (Zopyrion sandace) is a Neotropical spread-wing skipper butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. True to its name, it typically features a "sandy" or brownish ground color, often appearing mottled or pale. As a member of the subfamily Pyrginae, it often rests with its wings spread flat. Its range extends from Mexico through Central America to Costa Rica.It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical forest edges, trails, and open sunny areas where it can bask.

Diet

It belongs to the skipper subfamily Pyrginae, whose caterpillars generally feed on broad-leaved plants rather than grasses.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and may also obtain nutrients from damp ground and other moist surfaces.

Range

Zopyrion sandace is a Mexican and Central American skipper occurring from western and southern Mexico through Guatemala to Costa Rica.
Guerrero is within its range, and it occurs in the Zihua region. The species is recorded from Río Papagayo in Guerrero and from other localities in the state.

Habitat

It inhabits tropical dry forest, woodland, forest edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.
In the Zihua region, suitable habitat includes tropical dry forest, open woodland, thorn scrub and disturbed vegetation.
It is associated with trees and shrubs in tropical dry-forest environments and may be encountered along forest edges and in sunny clearings.

Description

A small to medium-sized skipper with the compact, robust appearance typical of the genus Zopyrion.
The wings are predominantly brown, with contrasting pale markings and mottled patterning on the underside.
The forewings are relatively broad, while the hindwings are rounded and lack the long tails found in many other tropical skippers.