Arizona Giant Skipper, Agathymus aryxna Box Canyon Santa Rita Mtns ARIZONA 19 September Hesperiidae

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Agathymus aryxna Box Canyon Santa Rita Mtns ARIZONA 19 September Hesperiidae Megathyminae Female Giant Skippers do not feed as adult butterflies. The males, like this one, sip moisture from mud. Adults have a noisy, fast flight. From early morning to noon, males perch near Palmer Agave (host plants) to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the agave and fall to the base of the plant. A young caterpillar crawls to a leaf tip and burrows inside where it eats pulp and then hibernates. In the spring the caterpillar makes a new burrow in a leaf base where it feeds on sap until becoming inactive for the summer. Before pupating, the caterpillar enlarges the opening of its burrow and makes a silk trap door from which the adult can emerge.

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Size: 5293px × 3480px
Photo credit: © Rick & Nora Bowers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: butterfly, drinking, feeding, flower, flowers, insect, minerals, nectar, nectaring, skipper, summer, summertime