Garita Skipperling
Common NameGarita Skipperling
Scientific NameOarisma garita
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange-brown, brown, gray
HabitatPrairies, grasslands, open meadows, forest clearings
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from southern Canada through the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains to northern Mexico.
Host Plantsvarious grasses (e.g., Bouteloua gracilis, Koeleria macrantha)
Flight PeriodLate May to August, typically one brood per year.
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, often constructing shelters by tying leaves together. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small, slender body, orange-brown forewings, and dull grayish-brown hindwings. The antennae are clubbed with a distinct hook (apiculus).
Description
A small, slender skipper with a hairy, grayish-brown body. The forewings are predominantly orange-brown on the dorsal side, while the hindwings and underside are a duller grayish-brown.
