Discover the Tailed Aguna, a Hesperiidae butterfly known for its distinctive tailed wings and rapid, skipping flight.
Aguna coeloides
Tailed Aguna
Hesperiidae
3.2–4.0 cm (1.3–1.6 inches)
Dark brown with tailed hindwings; faint white markings on forewings
Rapid, skipping flight; often perches with wings closed
Legumes, including Acacia species
Adult stage: 1–2 weeks
Aguna coeloides is found in Central and South America, with populations in Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. It inhabits tropical rainforests, forest clearings, and disturbed areas, thriving in warm, humid climates with dense vegetation.
The Tailed Aguna displays a rapid, skipping flight characteristic of skippers. Males are territorial, perching on vegetation to attract females. Adults feed on nectar from flowers, and larvae feed on legumes, constructing leaf shelters.
Aguna coeloides is not currently endangered, but habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture poses a threat. Conservation efforts focus on preserving tropical forest ecosystems and supporting native plant growth.