Diet

• It belongs to the skipper subfamily Pyrginae, and the caterpillars are likely associated with broad-leaved tropical plants rather than grasses.

• Adults visit flowers for nectar.

Range

• Systaspes funebris is a Mexican species associated primarily with western and southwestern Mexico.

• Guerrero is within its range, and the species occurs in the Zihua region. It is included in recent butterfly inventories from Guerrero.

Habitat

• It inhabits tropical dry forest, thorn scrub, woodland edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.

• In the Zihua region, suitable habitat includes the dry forest and xeric shrubland characteristic of the coastal lowlands.

• Adults are likely to be encountered perching on shrubs and low vegetation or visiting flowers. Coastal Guerrero supports particularly diverse skipper communities in tropical dry forest and xerophytic shrubland.

Description

• A medium-sized, dark brown skipper with the compact, robust appearance typical of the genus Systaspes.

• The wings are predominantly dark brown, with pale markings on the forewings that are relatively subdued compared with many other pyrgine skippers.

• The hindwings are rounded and lack the prominent tails characteristic of many hairstreaks and swallowtails.