Palatka Skipper
Common NamePalatka Skipper
Scientific NameEuphyes pilatka
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsbrown
HabitatWet prairies, marshes, bogs, cypress swamps, wet flatwoods
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (primarily Florida, coastal Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi)
Host PlantsRhynchospora inundata, Rhynchospora microcarpa, other sedges
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay single eggs on host sedges. Larvae construct shelters by tying leaves together with silk and feed within them, pupating in similar shelters.
Identification TipsKey features include its uniform dark brown coloration on both upper and lower wing surfaces, robust body, and strongly hooked antennae. It lacks prominent spots or markings found in many other skippers and prefers wetland habitats.
Description
A medium-sized, robust skipper with uniformly dark brown wings and a hairy body. The antennae are strongly hooked at the tip.
