Ocola Skipper
Common NameOcola Skipper
Scientific NamePanoquina ocola
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsbrown
HabitatOpen grassy areas, fields, marshes, agricultural fields, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, Central America, South America; migrates north to parts of the Midwest and Northeast US
Host Plantsrice, sugarcane, Johnson grass, various panic grasses
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; late summer to fall (e.g., August to November) in temperate regions
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay eggs singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, constructing shelters by rolling leaves, and pupate within a leaf shelter.
Identification TipsKey features include its plain, unmarked brown wings (especially the underside of the hindwing), large eyes, and strongly hooked antennae. It can be distinguished from similar species by its overall lack of prominent spots or patterns.
Description
A small to medium-sized, plain brown skipper with relatively large eyes and characteristic hooked antennae. Its wings are uniformly dull brown, often lacking distinct markings.
