Observation date: August 08, 2021
Submitted by: Neil Decker
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Very large skipper, feeding on Ruellia nudiflora, whose flowers can be up to 2 inches at the opening. Rufous-brown with noticeable glassy spots. About twice the size of any grass-skipper I've ever seen, and unlike any Pyrgidae butterfly I've ever seen in Central Texas. Similar in size to longtailed skippers.
Status: Unknown
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: October 18, 2022
Coordinator notes: I thought about this for a week or so before approving the sighting. This sighting took place further west than I would have expected; the nearest reliable sighting (that I know of, anyway) of O. maculata is in Conroe, north of Houston. Also, the spots on the hindwing are not quite4 right. The top spot should be somewhat separated from the others. That said, in other ways it looks right. The size is correct - larger than other grass skippers. I could be wrong about this, however, and perhaps other coordinators will have something to say about it.
