Whirlabout
Common NameWhirlabout
Scientific NamePolites vibex
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsorange, brown, black
HabitatOpen, sunny areas, fields, meadows, roadsides, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean
Host PlantsBermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, sugarcane
Flight PeriodYear-round in southern parts of range; May to November elsewhere
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay single eggs on various host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, creating shelters from silk and leaves, and pupate within similar leaf shelters.
Identification TipsKey features include the olive-brown body, bright orange-brown wings with dark borders, and the male's prominent black stigma on the forewing. Its rapid, darting flight is also characteristic.
Description
This small to medium-sized skipper has an olive-brown body and bright orange-brown wings with distinct dark brown borders and veins. The underside of the hindwing is typically a uniform yellowish-orange.
