Moon-marked Skipper
Common NameMoon-marked Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes celia
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white, tan
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, clearings, roadsides
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (primarily Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico)
Host PlantsBermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, various other grasses
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with a dark head, feeding on various grasses and creating shelters by tying blades together. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark brown wings with white forewing spots and the diagnostic pale, crescent-shaped mark on the hindwing underside. Like other skippers, it has hooked antennae.
Description
A small, dark brown skipper with several distinct white spots on the forewings and a prominent pale, crescent-shaped mark on the underside of the hindwing.
