Bell's Roadside-Skipper
Common NameBell's Roadside-Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes belli
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)27.5
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, clearings, roadsides, often near moist areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (North Carolina south to Florida, west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma)
Host PlantsPaspalum setaceum, Paspalum laeve, various grasses
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods, varies by region)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, constructing shelters by tying leaves together, and pupate in similar shelters near the ground.
Identification TipsKey features include its dark brown coloration, the specific pattern of small white forewing spots, and the prominent pale marginal spots on the hindwing underside. The antennae are relatively short with a stout club.
Description
A small, dark brown skipper with a somewhat pointed forewing apex, featuring a few small white spots on the forewing and a distinctive row of pale spots along the hindwing margin on the underside.
