Meske's Skipper
Common NameMeske's Skipper
Scientific NameHesperia meskei
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange, brown
HabitatPrairies, open woodlands, coastal plain, often sandy areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas
Host Plantsbluestem, switchgrass
Flight PeriodApril to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, creating shelters, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its relatively plain orange-brown upperside and often unmarked or very faintly marked underside. Males possess a prominent stigma on the forewing.
Description
A small to medium-sized skipper with a robust body and hooked antennae, featuring plain orange-brown upperwings and a paler, often unmarked, underside.
