Sickle-winged Skipper
Achlyodes thraso
Description 1 5/8-1 7/8" (41-48 mm). Wings full, rounded; FW indented below slightly hooked tip. Above, blackish-brown with a violet sheen; FW has sickle-shaped black band just inside margin. Male has clouds and patches of purplish or bluish-brown; female paler brown overall, sometimes blue-gray or olive-gray. Below, similar but lighter.
Life Cycle Caterpillar yellow-green with a darker head and middle stripe. Chrysalis green with white powder; hangs from silken girdle.
Host plants are citruses (Rutaceae); in Texas also lime prickly-ash (Zanthoxylum fagara).
Flight Successive broods; year-round in Texas.
Habitat Rolling, hilly country and open spaces.
Range Texas south to Argentina; also Greater Antilles.
Discussion The hooked tips, together with the violet coloring, separate this species from any other skipper.
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