Poling's Giant-Skipper
Agathymus polingi (Skinner, 1905)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Megathyminae
Identification: Upperside is brown-black with orange-yellow wing bases and forewing costa. Both wings have dull orange-yellow bands, which are wider in the female. Underside of hindwing is mottled gray with a complete pale band.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: From early morning to noon males perch near host plants to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on the host 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 ceasing activity 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.
Flight: One brood from September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Schott\'s agave (Agave schottii) and Toumey\'s agave (A. toumeyana).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Dry hills and open woodland.
Range: Southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
Conservation: Populations and their habitats should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Preserve habitat and discourage overgrazing.
Comments: NULL
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 08, 2020
Submitted by: lconrad6853@gma...
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 17, 2019
Observation date: Oct 25, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (P Savage-M Smith)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 08, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (H. A. Freeman)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 13, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 12, 1964
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Breedlove)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004