Fiery Skipper

The shape of the stigma on the male should distinguish phyleus from similarly patterned skippers. 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.
The female is extremely similar in coloration to the Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), but lacks the translucent (hyaline) spots on the dorsal forewing. In addition, a long orange spur on the dorsal hindwing extends to the wing margin. Forewing length: 12-16 mm.

Fiery Skipper is a butterfly of the suburbs. It is rarely encountered or nonexistent in undisturbed regions. The adults will nectar at a wide variety of flower species, although those actually utilized should be recorded by an interested lepidopterist. The species exhibits the rapid skipping flights observed in many members of the family Hesperiidae.

The Fiery Skipper is the small orange butterfly which flies abundantly in suburban areas of Orange County, nectaring at many backyard flowers. Next to the Imported Cabbageworm Butterfly (Pieris rapae), it is probably the most commonly seen butterfly in Orange County.

Posted in: F,Fiery Skipper,Hesperiidae