Chalk-marked Skipper
Common NameChalk-marked Skipper
Scientific NameHylephila signata
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, pale yellow
HabitatOpen grassy areas, meadows, lawns, roadsides, gardens
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, Central America, South America
Host PlantsBermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, various other lawn grasses
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical areas; multiple broods from spring to fall in temperate regions
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating shelters by tying leaves together. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsLook for the specific pattern of pale, chalky-white to yellowish spots on the brown forewings and hindwings. Males possess a dark stigma (sex patch) on the forewing, which can help distinguish them from females and similar species.
Description
A small, robust skipper with warm brown wings marked with distinct, somewhat rectangular, pale yellowish-white spots, particularly noticeable on the forewings. The body is also brownish.
