A. nysa life history
Nysa Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nysa) Life History


3-9-10, ovipositing
     

Egg, 3-9-10

Recently emerged caterpillar, 3-18-10
      

3-30-10, in shelter
     

4-1-10, head now has Nysa coloration
     

4-5-10, new instar - note presence of old "head" and light color of new one
     

4-8-10
     

4-11-10, mature caterpillar
     

Chrysalis, 4-14-10
     

Pre-emergent chrysalis, 4-23-10
 
     

Fresh Nysa Roadside-Skipper, 4-23-10
 

One evening in March I noticed a Nysa Roadside-Skipper ovipositing on grass blades in our yard. I believe that we have a variety of St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum). I was able to locate one (only!) egg which I monitored and then collected when it appeared near the time when the caterpillar would emerge.

The fresh caterpillar appeared on March 18. It had a black head, which changed to stripes on March 29. In later instars, the striping was even more pronounced.

Facial development of Nysa Roadside Skipper

 
   Early instar          First striped face


Later instars

The caterpillar grew slowly, finally pupating on April 14. The adult butterfly emerged 9 days later. The journey from egg to adult took 45 days.

Nysa Roadside-Skipper Page