Biological Studies of the Florida Dusky Wing Skipper, and a Preliminary Survey of Other Insects on Barbados Cherry

Abstract

The Florida dusky wing skipper, Ephyriades brunnea floridensis B. and C., was reported feeding on barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra L.) by the junior author in 1951. Available literature has not revealed references to the habits or biology of this butterfly, so a study of this insect has been conducted during the summer of 1954. This insect, described as a distinct subspecies in 1948, is a representative of the subfamily Pyrginae, family Hesperiidae. The adult (Fig. 1) is well illustrated and briefly described by Klots, but no reference to the larval forms (Fig. 2) has been located. The larvae have been found feeding within webbed leaves in the barbados cherry plantings at the University of Miami Experimental Farm, where they have caused noticeable injury each season. Infestations have not been abundant enough to cause extensive defoliation of the host plants, but many of the individual plants have shown a ragged appearance from the leaf injury. A single caterpillar ties the edges of two or more leaves together by a rhythmic moving of the head, with a silken thread exuding from spinnerets. The larvae feed within this protected area, without destroying it completely but frequently leave it for other feeding localities, with accompanying leaf-tying. The full grown larvae in natural resting position are from 25 to 30 mm. long. The body is basically green in color from the contained food, with a distinct brownto black-colored head capsule. There are eight distinct orange-colored spots on the head capsule, and three distinct white longitudinal stripes along each side of the body. The uppermost or dorsal stripe of each side lie close together on the dorsal surface of the body, and coalesce in the last abdominal segment. Between these dorsal stripes, irregular translucent spots are observed.