Red-headed Firetip

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

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]

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]

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]

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

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

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