Introduction
The Pyrginae, popularly known as Flats or Spreadwings, are a cosmopolitan subfamily distributed across temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world. In the Americas there are 990 species.
The tribe Eudamini includes 44 genera in the Americas, amongst which are the Long-tailed Skippers Urbanus, Chioides and Aguna; and other familiar genera including Phocides, Autochton, Astraptes Pellicia and Calaenorrhinus.
The genus Pellicia comprises of 16 stout-bodied, medium sized skippers, all of which are confined to various parts of the neotropical region. All have dark greyish brown wings, often with a faint bluish or purplish sheen, and a pattern of suffused dark markings. Many of the species are very difficult to separate visually, so the identification of the illustrated insect as santana is tentative.
Pellicia santana is recorded from Ecuador and Peru. If my determination is correct its range also extends north into Colombia and possibly Panama.
Habitats
This species is found in tropical and subtropical forest at altitudes between about 100-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Males are almost always seen as singletons, usually when imbibing mineralised moisture from river beaches, muddy tracks or around the edges of lagoons.