Euphyes berryi

Last updated

Euphyes berryi
Status TNC G2.svg
Imperiled  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Euphyes
Species:
E. berryi
Binomial name
Euphyes berryi
(Bell, 1941)
Synonyms [2]
  • Atrytone berryi Bell, 1941

Euphyes berryi, known as Berry's skipper, is a rare species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae, historically found in wet areas from North Carolina to Florida. [1] [3]

Contents

Another common name proposed for the species is Florida swamp skipper, a name also proposed for a subspecies of Euphyes dukesi, Euphyes dukesi calhouni Shuey, 1996. Shuey felt that the name was “somewhat inappropriately” proposed by Pyle in 1981 for Euphyes berryi, a species “not endemic to Florida and which is found in open wetlands, not swamps.” [4] [5]

Description

Wingspan of adult males is 36–38 millimetres (1.42–1.50 in), and of adult females is 38–42 millimetres (1.50–1.65 in). [2] Body and head are mostly brownish to fulvous (a dull brownish yellow), antennae black above and fulvous beneath. Male wings are mostly bright fulvous upperside, and darker or brownish fulvous underside, with darker brown borders and some spot patterns. Female wings are mostly black brown upper side, with dark fulvous undersides. Hindwing undersides of both genders distinctly show paler, yellowish fulvous veins.

Identification of the species is considered difficult, with individuals of Euphyes dion, Euphyes byssus and probably other skippers that sometimes lack normal hindwing patterns closely resembling Euphyes berryi. [1]

Range and habitat

Euphyes berryi was historically found in outer coastal plains from North Carolina (north to Dare County) to southern Florida (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida). [1] It may be extirpated from portions of its historic range. [1]

Its habitat consists of wet areas near ponds and swamps, including wet prairies, marshes, and savannas with pitcher plants. [1]

Ecology

The larvae of E. berryi feed on various sedges, probably one or more species of Carex . [1] Adults feed on nectar from various flowers, including pickerelweed (genus Pontederia ). [1]

The larvae overwinter, and adults have been reported from March to October, probably from two broods. [1]

Status

Euphyes berryi’s NatureServe conservation status, last reviewed in 2015, is G1G3, a range from critically imperiled to vulnerable due to significant uncertainty and limited knowledge of its habitat. [1] The rounded average global threat status is G2 (imperiled). [1]

Etymology

Euphyes berryi was named by Ernest Layton Bell “for Mr. Dean F. Berry of Orlando, Florida, who collected most of the specimens.” [2] Bell himself was an amateur but active entomologist and taxonomist. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Papilio glaucus</i> Species of insect

Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm. The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large skipper</span> Species of butterfly

The large skipper is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grass skippers</span> Subfamily of butterflies

Grass skippers or banded skippers are butterflies of the subfamily Hesperiinae, part of the skipper family, Hesperiidae. The subfamily was established by Pierre André Latreille in 1809.

<i>Gegenes nostrodamus</i> Species of butterfly

Gegenes nostrodamus, commonly known as the dingy swift, light pygmy skipper, Mediterranean skipper or veloz de las rieras, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the Mediterranean Sea, through Anatolia to Turkestan and India.

<i>Ancyloxypha numitor</i> Species of butterfly

Ancyloxypha numitor, the least skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, Satyrinae-like flight.

<i>Polites themistocles</i> Species of butterfly

Polites themistocles, the tawny-edged skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.

<i>Euphyes</i> Genus of butterflies

The Euphyes is genus of North American butterfly of the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae.

<i>Favria cribrellum</i> Species of butterfly

Favria is a monotypic genus of spread-wing skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. This genus was formerly a synonym of Muschampia, and its only species, Favria cribrellum, was formerly a member of Muschampia. The species is commonly known as the spinose skipper.

<i>Muschampia orientalis</i> Species of butterfly

Muschampia orientalis, the Oriental skipper, or Oriental marbled skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, east to Asia Minor, northern Iran, Ukraine, the Caucasus to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. There is a disjoint population in northern Hungary. In the south it is also found in Wadi Al Hisha (Jordan) and Israel.

<i>Atrytonopsis loammi</i> Species of butterfly

Atrytonopsis loammi, the Loammi skipper or southern dusted skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the United States on barrier islands in North Carolina and from South Carolina to Florida and Mississippi.

<i>Tagiades flesus</i> Species of butterfly

Tagiades flesus, the clouded flat, clouded forester or clouded skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae from southern Africa.

<i>Euphyes dion</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes dion, the Dion skipper or Alabama skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in scattered populations along the Atlantic coast of North America, from western Massachusetts and south-eastern New York south to north-eastern Florida, west to north-eastern Texas, and north to south-eastern North Dakota, northern Wisconsin, southern Ontario and southern Quebec. It is listed as a species of special concern in the US state of Connecticut.

<i>Proserpinus gaurae</i> Species of moth

Proserpinus gaurae, the proud sphinx moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. It is found from Texas and Louisiana east to northern Florida, north to Alabama, Missouri, northern Georgia and South Carolina. It may range as far south as northern Mexico.

<i>Euphyes vestris</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes vestris, the dun skipper, sedge witch or dun sedge skipper, is a species of butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America from Nova Scotia west across southern Canada to southern Alberta, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas. There are disjunct populations in the High Plains and Rocky Mountains and along the Pacific Coast.

<i>Oarisma garita</i> Species of butterfly

Oarisma garita, the Garita skipperling, western skipperling or Garita skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae . This skipper ranges southeastern Manitoba to British Columbia and south through the American Midwest as far south as Mexico. Its habitats include dry or moist prairies, open woodlands, and limestone outcrops.

<i>Poanes yehl</i> Species of butterfly

Poanes yehl, the Yehl skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from southeastern Virginia west to southwestern Missouri and south to eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast and northern Florida.

<i>Euphyes dukesi</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes dukesi, or Dukes' skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It lives in the eastern United States and in a small portion of southern Ontario, Canada, in three distinct populations. Preferred habitats are shaded wetlands, with various species of sedge plants it uses as host plants for its larvae.

<i>Euphyes pilatka</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes pilatka, the Palatka skipper or saw-grass skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the United States from southeastern Virginia south to peninsular Florida and the Florida Keys, then west along the Gulf Coast to southern Mississippi. Strays can be found up to northern Maryland and southwestern Louisiana.

<i>Euphyes arpa</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes arpa, the palmetto skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.

<i>Euphyes bimacula</i> Species of butterfly

Euphyes bimacula, the two-spotted skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in North America, from northeast Colorado and western Nebraska; eastern Nebraska east to southern Quebec; southern Maine south to central Virginia; coastal plain south to Georgia; and the Gulf Coast.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Schweitzer, DF (2013). "Comprehensive Report Species – Euphyes berryi". NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. 7.1. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe Inc. Retrieved 3 January 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 Bell, E. L. (June 1941). "Two new species of Hesperiidae from North America. (Lepidoptera)". Entomological News. 52 (6): 163–169.
  3. "Euphyes berryi". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. Shuey, John A. (1996). "Another new Euphyes from the southern United States coastal plain (Hesperiidae)". Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 50: 46–53.
  5. Pyle, Robert Michael (12 July 1981). The Audubon Society field guide to North American butterflies . Knopf. pp.  823–824. ISBN   978-0-394-51914-2.
  6. Ruckes, Herbert; dos Passos, Cyril F. (1965). "Ernest Layton Bell (1876–1964)". Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 19 (3): 190–191.