Red-headed Firetip

Identity

Pyrrhopyge zenodorus belongs to the firetip skippers, a group within Hesperiidae. Godman and Salvin described the species in 1893. [1]

Appearance

Both sexes have blue wings, a broad thorax and a conspicuous reddish head. The female abdomen is relatively short and broad; the male's is more slender. The widely separated antennae end in hooked clubs. [2]

Range and habitat

Its range extends from southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica. In Guanacaste it occurs around forest margins, roads and shrubby openings in both dry and wet forest landscapes. [1][2]

Life cycle

Young larvae cut a flap within a leaf to make a shelter. Larger larvae join two leaves. The dark caterpillar has yellow rings, fine pale hairs and a reddish, hairy head. In Guanacaste rearings, the pupal stage lasted 18–25 days. [2]

Food and host plants

Costa Rican larvae have been reared from Vismia baccifera, a shrub or tree in Hypericaceae. [2]

Behaviour

Adults fly by day through open vegetation and along forest edges. [2]

Ecology

Guanacaste rearings document two parasitoids: the braconid wasp Apanteles eldarayae and the tachinid fly Houghia longicercus. [2]

Artwork

Male · Ventral view.Illustration adapted from Pyrrhopyge zenodorus specimen photograph by Área de Conservación Guanacaste / Janzen–Hallwachs inventory (DHJ voucher photograph). CC BY 4.0.

Pyrrhopyge zenodorus, male ventral view — Male · Ventral view.Illustration adapted from Pyrrhopyge zenodorus specimen photograph by Área de Conservación Guanacaste / Janzen–Hallwachs inventory (DHJ voucher photograph). CC BY 4.0.

Sources

Pyrrhopyge zenodorus ↗
Butterflies of America · Accessed 2026-10-13
Pyrrhopyge zenodorus (Hesperiidae) ↗
Área de Conservación Guanacaste · Accessed 2026-10-13

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