Nikko Skipper
Common NameNikko Skipper
Scientific NamePardaleodes sator
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, yellow
HabitatForests, forest edges, clearings, secondary growth
Geographic RangeWest and Central Africa (e.g., Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania)
Host Plantsgrasses
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, with peaks during rainy seasons
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are typically grass feeders, often constructing shelters by rolling leaves together.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of dark brown wings with distinct orange-yellow spots on the forewings and a diffuse, lighter band on the hindwings. The robust body and characteristic hooked antennae are typical of skippers.
Description
A medium-sized skipper with dark brown wings, featuring prominent orange-yellow spots on the forewings and a faint, paler band on the hindwings. Its body is robust and antennae are hooked.
