Orange-edged Roadside-Skipper
Common NameOrange-edged Roadside-Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes celia
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Primary Colorsdark brown, orange
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, clearings, roadsides, grassy areas
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (from Texas east to Florida and north to Virginia) and northeastern Mexico
Host PlantsBermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating shelters by tying leaves together, and typically overwinter as larvae before pupating in similar shelters.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive combination of dark wings with a bright orange outer wing margin and an orange head. The underside of the hindwing is also dark with an orange margin, helping to distinguish it from similar species.
Description
A small, dark skipper characterized by its dark brown to black wings with a prominent bright orange fringe along the outer margins. Its head is also distinctly orange.
