Hylephila phyleus
Size:
Wingspan is 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches.
Similar Species:
Whirlabout
Carolina
Roadside-Skipper
Habitat:
Gardens, lawns, low grassy fields, power line clearings, savannas and
roadsides.
Range/Abundance:
Common to abundant in NC and SC
and uncommon in VA and WV. This is a southern species that migrates
northward.
Flight Period:
Adults fly from mid April until late November in three broods with some
gaps between broods.
Larval Host Plants:
Grasses including Bermuda Grass Cynodon dactylon, Crabgrass Digitaria,
St. Augustine Grass Stenotaphrum secundatum
Comments:
These little skippers can be seen by the hundreds at times. They are very
busy fast fliers that seem to never stop.
Whirlabout has larger dark patches where Fiery Skippers have small dark spots. The rarer and smaller Carolina Roadside-Skipper looks very similar except the body has dark rings on it.
The top photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on August 16, 2002. The second photo was taken in Adams Co., OH on September 03, 2002. The bottom photo was taken in Columbus Co., NC on October 27, 2002.
