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Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of the Andes
 
Common Mylon
Mylon maimon FABRICIUS, 1775
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily - PYRGINAE
Tribe - PYRGINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Mylon maimon, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
 
Mylon species, possibly another form of maimon, Manu cloudforest, 1600m, Peru
 
Introduction
 
The Pyrginae, known colloquially as Flats or Spreadwings, are found in temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world. In the neotropical region there are 990 described species, but it is likely that at least another 50 remain to be discovered. Identifying  them is often difficult due to the lack of illustrated books dealing with the Hesperiidae, so it is frequently necessary to consult museum specimens and seek the guidance of skipper specialists.
 
Fortunately the illustrated butterfly, Mylon maimon, is a distinctive and easily recognised species. In some reference books the butterfly is incorrectly listed as Mylon menander or M. menippus, but these are junior synonyms - maimon is the name currently recognised as valid for this species.
 
The genus Mylon contains 15 known species, all with the same characteristic wing shape and pale greyish-white ground colour. Some species are faintly marked, while others are quite heavily marbled with dark brown.
 
Mylon maimon is probably the most widespread species, found from Colombia to Bolivia.
 
Habitats
 
This species occurs at elevations from sea level to about 1800m, in semi-open situations within forested areas. It is usually seen along wide sunlit tracks, or forest edge habitats.
 
Lifecycle
 
The lifecycle appears to be unrecorded. Generally, Pyrgine butterflies lay their eggs singly on either the upperside or underside of leaves. The larvae are typically dull green or brownish, with thin longitudinal lines along the back and sides, and with black shiny heads. They feed typically on low growing herbaceous plants, but a small percentage feed on the leaves of bushes or trees. The pupae are usually dark and smooth, with the wing cases in a contrasting tone or colour. They are normally formed within silken tents formed by spinning together the leaves of the foodplant.
 
Adult behaviour

 

Both sexes bask on bushes or low herbage, with wings outspread. Males are seen more frequently, usually when imbibing moisture from around the edges of muddy puddles, or from damp ditch beds where there is a lot of decaying vegetation.

 

 

 
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