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Phocides polybius

Phocides polybius

Saltarín Sangrante

Family: Hesperiidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from Argentina


Description


Characterized by a robust and muscular body structure typical of the Hesperiidae family, this taxon displays a wingspan measuring between 45 and 58 millimeters. The base color of the wings is a deep, velvety blackish-brown, which is brilliantly accented by iridescent greenish-blue or turquoise streaks radiating along the body and the basal veins of the forewings. The forewings feature a series of distinctive semi-transparent hyaline spots located in the discal zone. A key diagnostic feature is the vibrant orange-red patch on the anal lobe of the hindwings, providing a sharp contrast against the dark background. The antennae are thick, ending in a hooked tip that is typical of skippers, with a slightly lighter coloration at the very tip.

Geographical distribution: Occurs widely across the Neotropical region and extends into the Neartic transition, ranging from southern Texas in the United States, southward through Mexico, throughout Central America (including Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama), and deep into South America, where it is documented in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil (particularly within the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes), Bolivia, and northern Argentina.

Habitat: Primarily inhabits tropical wet forests, semi-deciduous woodlands, forest edges, riparian zones, and secondary growth areas. Due to its ecological plasticity, it is also frequently observed in human-modified environments such as orchards, domestic gardens, and agricultural landscapes. It is found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1500 meters, always in close proximity to host plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family.

Feeding: In its larval stage, this species is a specialist herbivore, feeding almost exclusively on the foliage of Myrtaceae species, with a strong preference for the guava plant (Psidium guajava) and various species of Eugenia. Adults are active nectar-feeders, utilizing their long proboscis to drink nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, including those in the genera Cordia, Croton, Eupatorium, and several other Asteraceae, making them efficient local pollinators.

Behavior: Diurnal in nature, this insect exhibits peak activity during sunny mornings and early afternoons. Its flight is remarkably fast, powerful, and erratic, which is characteristic of the Eudaminae subfamily. Males are territorial and engage in perching behavior, sitting on the upper surfaces of leaves at heights of 2 to 4 meters to monitor their territory and wait for potential mates. Larvae exhibit a unique engineering behavior, cutting and folding leaf edges, securing them with silk to construct a protective shelter that shelters them from predators and environmental extremes during the day.

Reproduction: Following aerial courtship and copulation, the female deposits her eggs singly on the young shoots or the undersides of new leaves of the host plant. The eggs are spherical, ribbed, and light green or yellowish in color. Upon hatching, the caterpillar progresses through five larval instars, growing larger and changing in appearance. Pupation takes place inside the final folded leaf shelter, where the pupa, covered in a white powdery wax layer, undergoes metamorphosis, emerging as an adult after approximately 14 to 20 days.

Conservation status: Has not been formally evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is currently not listed on any global red lists. It is generally considered common and locally abundant throughout its native range, largely supported by the widespread cultivation of its host plants. Nonetheless, local populations face localized threats from the heavy application of chemical pesticides in agricultural settings and the destruction of natural forest habitats.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 15/09/2026




Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 633098
  Adult

Avellaneda
Buenos Aires
Argentina
05/02/2025
Diego Trillo
Foto
Photography ID: 630506
  Adult

Concordia
Entre Ríos
Argentina
02/23/2025
Pablo Bruni
Foto
Photography ID: 618171
  Adult

La Viña
Catamarca
Argentina
12/28/2024
Fabrizio García
Foto
Photography ID: 616941
  Adult

Villa Adelina
Buenos Aires
Argentina
11/01/2024
Hork Fell
Foto
Photography ID: 605694
  Larva

San Martín
Buenos Aires
Argentina
10/04/2024
Flavia Yanucci
Foto
Photography ID: 598719
  Adult

Parque Nacional Iguazú
Misiones
Argentina
08/05/2024
Elsa Longo
Foto
Photography ID: 572787
  Adult

General Pico
La Pampa
Argentina
02/24/2024
Graciela Antenucci
Foto
Photography ID: 560710
  Adult

Parque Nacional Calilegua
Jujuy
Argentina
09/23/2023
Guillermo Marcaida



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 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
238825522/11/2025ArgentinaBuenos AiresFloridaMarcos Garberoglio
228331402/05/2025ArgentinaBuenos AiresEco Área Avellaneda, AvellanedaDiego Trillo
227338323/02/2025ArgentinaEntre RíosVilla Zorraquin, ConcordiaPablo Bruni
224302525/01/2025ArgentinaEntre RíosParque Nacional El PalmarPatricia Gabriela Mancilla Iglesias
223293528/12/2024ArgentinaCatamarcaDique Sumampa, La ViñaFabrizio García
222849401/11/2024ArgentinaBuenos AiresVilla AdelinaHork Fell
217759204/10/2024ArgentinaBuenos AiresVilla Lynch, San MartínFlavia Yanucci
228214622/09/2024ArgentinaJujuyReserva Natural Privada Ecoportal de PiedraMarcos Augusto Lartigau
214676505/08/2024ArgentinaMisionesParque Nacional IguazúElsa Longo
200350024/02/2024ArgentinaLa PampaGeneral PicoGraciela Antenucci
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Phocides polybius – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 23/09/2026.