Four-spotted Skipperling
Common NameFour-spotted Skipperling
Scientific NameCopaeodes aurantiaca
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white
HabitatOpen grassy areas, prairies, meadows, roadsides
Geographic RangeSouthern United States, from Florida west to Arizona, north to Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio
Host PlantsBermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, various other grasses
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, often creating shelters by tying leaves together, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, reddish-brown wings, and the distinct pattern of white spots on the forewing. The underside of the hindwing is typically plain orange-brown without markings, and its hooked antennae are characteristic of skippers.
Description
A small, reddish-brown skipper with a robust, hairy body and prominent white spots on its forewings. Its antennae are distinctly hooked at the tips.
