Palmetto Skipper
Common NamePalmetto Skipper
Scientific NameHylephila phyleus
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange, brown
HabitatOpen grassy areas, fields, lawns, gardens, roadsides
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (especially Florida), Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America
Host PlantsSt. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, sugarcane, other grasses
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods from spring to fall in temperate areas
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grass blades. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for its tawny orange coloration, especially on the underside of the hindwings. Males have a prominent, dark stigma on the forewing; females are generally darker with more extensive brown markings.
Description
A small, robust skipper with tawny orange wings, often with subtle darker brown markings on the forewings and hindwings, and a tawny body.
