Summary ⁶

The Monk Skipper (Asbolis capucinus) was first noted as an established population in Florida in 1947, formed from strays from Cuba (Scott 1986). There are many flights all year in southern Florida, March 1-Dec. 31 in central Florida (Scott 1986).

Description ⁷

Upper side of male is black; forewing with a gray stigma. Uppe rside of female is a paler brownish black with a pale diffuse patch on the forewing. Underside of both sexes is mahogany red and black.
Wing Span: 1 7/8 - 2 3/8 inches (4.8 - 6 cm).

Larva Description ⁷

Head distinct, brown; prothorax pale yellow with thin distal marginal black stripe; body translucent pale green from T2 to A6, A7-10 pale yellow; A10 with distal margin black; spiracles black with pale yellow spiracular line; underside pale yellow.

Larval Host Plants ⁷

Various palms including palmetto (Sabal), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and coconut (Cocos nucifera).

GTM Occurrence ⁷

The Monk Skipper is considered a rare species at the GTM. A single observation was made in the open habitat of Transect A on May 28, 2009. There has been 1 specimen observed as of December 28, 2015.

Distribution ⁷

Peninsular Florida, the Keys, and the West Indies.

Habitat ⁶

Habitats are subtropical areas under palms.

Nature serve conservation status ⁸

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Kent Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), uploaded by Kent Miller
2. (c) Adam Skowronski, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/adam_skowronski/17272477385/
3. (c) Mary Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/38514062@N03/14109702364/
4. (c) Dan Irizarry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/danirizarry/5018330247/
5. (c) GTMResearchReserve, all rights reserved, uploaded by GTMResearchReserve
6. Adapted by GTMResearchReserve from a work by (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/20625734
7. (c) GTMResearchReserve, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
8. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28758865

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0

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