Skip to main content

Firey Grass Skipper

Subfamily Hesperiinae

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

27.9095, -82.7873

Field Notes

Description:

Grass Skippers is the English name for butterflies of the subfamily Hesperiinae, part of the Skipper family. They are also known as the banded skippers.

With over 2,000 described species, this is the largest skipper butterfly subfamily.

Hesperiinae larvae feed on grasses and sedges. Adults typically visit flowers and hold their wings together while feeding.[1] They hold their wings partially open while resting, with the front wings and hind wings held at different angles. They are usually orange, rust, or brown in colour and have pointed forewings.[1] Many species have dark markings or black stigmas on their forewings

Notes:

The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and are approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass.

Fiery skippers, along with all other species of skippers and skipperlings, can hold their wings in "triangle" shape. The forewings are held upright, and the hindwings are folded flat. This position is thought to better absorb the sun's rays.

The fiery Skipper lives in Northern America

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

I can tell it is a Grass Skipper (Subfamily Hesperiinae) I find this little orange and black skippers very challenging to ID. (I think yours is a Fiery Skipper) They are all very similar looking. Having said that the one on the second and fifth photos seems to have much more black on the wings and may be a different individual from the rest ??? Anyway here are some of the websites I use for help in ID: http://bugguide.net/node/view/12855/bgpage http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/floridagrassskippers.htm
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 5, 2012

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon