Least Skipper
Common NameLeast Skipper
Scientific NameAncyloxypha numitor
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange, brown
HabitatWet meadows, marshes, stream banks, ditches, and other damp grassy areas
Geographic RangeEastern and central North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and Texas, west to Colorado and New Mexico
Host Plantsrice cutgrass, barnyard grass, various wetland grasses
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grasses, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its exceptionally small size, bright orange wings with minimal markings (often just dark margins), and a characteristic weak, low, skipping flight close to the ground.
Description
A very small skipper with bright orange wings, often featuring dark brown margins, and a pale white underside to its body.
