Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia)
La Grulla, Starr Co., TX 10/17/04.
Related to North Carolina's Swarthy Skipper, but larger and with a hint of a pale 7 on the hindwing below.
Cameron Co., TX 10/14/04.
Fawn-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes odilia), fresh
Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/19/04.
Similar to the more common Clouded Skipper, but smaller and with a subtly different pattern.
Sabal Palms, Cameron Co., TX 10/18/04.
Fawn-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes odilia), worn
Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/15/04.
The field marks can be on the subtle side...
San Ygnacio, Zapata Co., TX 6/6/04.
San Ygnacio, Zapata Co., TX 6/6/04.
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), male (left) and female
Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/14/04.
The most common grass-skipper. Compare with Fiery Skipper from North Carolina.
Whirlabout (Polites vibex), male
Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 6/6/04.
Common. Females look quite different from females of Whirlabout in North Carolina - much less distinctly marked.
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris), male
Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
Compare with Sachem from North Carolina.
NABA Butterfly Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
The main confusion species is Southern Broken-Dash, which usually is a darker, richer orange-brown (Mellana is a paler orange-yellow-brown) and has a 3-pattern instead of a 7-pattern of pale dots on the underside of the hindwing. Common Mellana males remind me of Byssus Skipper, which doesn't occur in south Texas. Meske's Skipper is also similar, but much more flighty than the relatively sedentary (and thus easier to photograph) Mellana and Byssus.
NABA Butterfly Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
Common Mellana (Quasimellana eulogius), male
World Birding Center, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/19/04.
This individual has a spot pattern a little more similar to that of a Southern Broken-Dash.
Common Mellana (Quasimellana eulogius), male
NABA Butterfly Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
The pattern on the upper side is also similar to Southern Broken-Dash, but note that there is no black stigma.
Common Mellana (Quasimellana eulogius), female
World Birding Center, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/19/04.
Females are quite different from males, with a darker, duller brown ground color, and paler spots in a smoothly curving 7 pattern.
NABA Butterfly Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo Co., TX 6/7/04.
Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo Co., TX 6/7/04.
Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, Hidalgo Co., TX 6/6/04.
Olive-clouded Skipper (Lerodea dysaules)
Pharr, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/19/04.
Similar to the much more common Eufala Skipper, but with a distinctive postmedian dark patch on the hindwing below.
Obscure Skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides)
Loma Alta, Cameron Co., TX 10/14/04.
A denizen of salt marshes, related to the Salt Marsh Skipper.
I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of butterflies that are a lot more obscure than this tiny skipper.
Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas)
Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
"Purple-washed" is a poor choice for a common name -- the similar Ocola Skipper and other Panoquina species also have a purple wash when fresh. Called Panoquina sylvicola in the NABA checklist.
Evans's Skipper (Panoquina evansi)
Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
This mega-rarity is like a giant Ocola Skipper with a distinctive broad white band and purple wash on the hindwing. Called Panoquina fusina in the NABA checklist.
Violet-banded Skipper (Nyctelius nyctelius)
Mission, Hidalgo Co., TX 10/13/04.
Nice of it to have a dark dot on the leading edge of the hindwing for easy ID!