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| Fiery Skipper |
Latin
Name: Hylephila phyleus |
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Genus: Hylephila Species: phyleus |
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Comments: |
| The Fiery Skipper has a rapid, darting flight but frequently stops to perch on low vegetation. Adults are exceedingly fond of flowers and readily congregate at available blossoms. They have a strong preference for colorful composites. The larvae utilize a variety of grasses including many commonly planted for lawns. As a result, the butterfly is often mentioned as a minor turf pest. It is often found alongside the similar-looking and equally abundant Sachem and Whirlabout. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
whitish green, laid singly on host leaves |
Larva: |
greenish brown with thin, dark brown dorsal stripe and black head |
Host Plants: |
a wide variety of grasses including Bermuda Grass and St. Augustine Grass |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
a wide variety of grasses including Bermuda Grass and St. Augustine Grass |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
open, grassy areas including old fields, roadsides, vacant lots, open woodlands, forest edges, parks, lawns and gardens |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
1 - 1.25 |
Centimeters: |
2.5 - 3.2 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
dissimilar; female darker with reduced orange markings |
Compare: |
Whirlabout is similar in size and color but has noticeably larger dark spots on the ventral hindwing. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- elongated wings; male is golden orange with jagged black border and black stigma; female is dark brown with tawny orange spots
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Below:
- hindwing golden orange in male or light brown in female with tiny dark brown spots
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Abundance: |
common to abundant |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
