Coahuila Giant-Skipper (Agathymus remingtoni)
Wing span: Not reported.
Identification: Upperside is black; both wings with cream-colored spots in males, larger orange-yellow spots in females. Underside of hindwing is black with gray overscales and a band of whitish spots.
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-October.
Caterpillar hosts: Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla).
Adult food: Females do not feed; males sip moisture from mud.
Habitat: Thorn forest and desert hills.
Range: South-central Texas south to central Mexico.
