Atrytonopsis edwardsi

Barnes & McDunnough, 1916

sheep skipper

Atrytonopsis edwardsi, commonly known as the sheep skipper, is a grass in the Hesperiidae. The was first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1916. It occurs in Central and North America, with a Hodges number of 4088. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Atrytonopsis ovinia by some taxonomic authorities.

Sheep SKipper Leslie Canyon NWR Douglas AZ 2017-10-15 11-12-26 (37709660312) by Bettina Arrigoni. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Sheep SKipper Leslie Canyon NWR Douglas AZ 2017-10-15 11-12-07 (37692985146) by Bettina Arrigoni. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Atrytonopsis edwardsi: /ˌætrɪtoʊˈnɒpsɪs ˈɛdwərdsi/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

The sheep skipper can be distinguished from other Atrytonopsis by its characteristic wing pattern and typical of the . As a grass skipper, it exhibits the rapid, darting pattern characteristic of Hesperiinae. Specific diagnostic features separating it from such as Atrytonopsis hianna and Atrytonopsis vierecki require examination of wing pattern details and genitalia.

Images

Habitat

As a grass skipper, Atrytonopsis edwardsi is associated with grassland and open where larval grasses occur.

Distribution

Found in Central and North America. Specific range details beyond this broad region are not well documented in available sources.

Diet

of related Atrytonopsis have been observed puddling on wet sand and soil to obtain minerals. Larval plants are grasses (Poaceae), though specific host records for A. edwardsi are not documented.

Host Associations

Poaceae - larval Larval ; specific grass not documented for this species

Behavior

Exhibits typical grass skipper including rapid, erratic . Related in the are known to engage in puddling behavior at stream margins.

Ecological Role

As a herbivore in larval stages and potential as an , though specific ecological contributions are not documented.

Similar Taxa

Atrytonopsis hiannaSimilar grass skipper and overlapping range; distinguished by wing pattern details
Atrytonopsis vierecki with similar preferences; requires close examination for separation
Atrytonopsis pittacusRelated grass skipper in same ; differs in distribution and wing characteristics

More Details

Taxonomic Status

Atrytonopsis edwardsi is listed as a synonym of Atrytonopsis ovinia in the Catalogue of Life and GBIF, with the accepted name being Atrytonopsis ovinia zaovinia. However, NCBI and other sources maintain it as a valid . The original description was published in 1916, though some sources cite 1918.

Hodges Number

The is assigned MONA ( of North America) or Hodges number 4088, a standardized numbering system for North American Lepidoptera.