Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Subtribe Eudamina

-Yellow-tipped Flasher (Telegonus anausis)

The Yellow-tipped Flasher (Telegonus anausis), is a large skipper butterfly with a wingspan typically ranging between 50 and 64 millimetres. Its wings are primarily a deep, chocolate brown, decorated with subtle dark barring but notably lacking the translucent white spots found on many other flasher species. Its most defining characteristic is the broad, vibrant yellow border along the trailing edge of the hindwing, which is visible on both the upper and lower surfaces. Found from Mexico through Central and South America, these butterflies inhabit tropical forest edges, clearings, and scrublands. Like many skippers, they are strong, fast fliers and are often observed visiting nectar plants such as Lantana or resting with their wings spread flat on the vegetation.

Diet

It belongs to the skipper subfamily Eudaminae, whose caterpillars are generally associated with broad-leaved woody plants, including species in the legume family.
Adults visit flowers for nectar.

Range

Telegonus anausis is a Neotropical species occurring in Mexico and parts of Central America.
It is associated primarily with western and southern Mexico and extends southward into Central America.
It occurs in the Pacific coastal region of Mexico, including Guerrero, and is found in the Zihua region.

Habitat

It inhabits tropical dry forest, tropical woodland, thorn scrub, forest edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.
In the Zihua region, suitable habitat includes the dry forest, thorn scrub and lowland woodland characteristic of the Pacific coastal lowlands.
Adults are likely to be encountered perching on shrubs and low branches or making rapid flights along forest edges and through sunny clearings.

Description

A medium-sized, dark brown skipper with the compact, robust appearance typical of the genus Telegonus.
The wings are predominantly dark brown, with contrasting pale, translucent markings on the forewings.
The forewing markings form a series of spots or a broken band across the central portion of the wing.
The hindwings are darker and relatively unmarked, with rounded margins and no prominent tails.
Adults have the rapid, darting flight characteristic of many Eudaminae skippers and often return to a favoured perch after a short flight.