Fiery skipper

The fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass.

Fiery skipper
Male

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Hylephila
Species:
H. phyleus
Binomial name
Hylephila phyleus
(Drury, 1773)
Subspecies
  • Hylephila phyleus eureka (Austin and J. Emmel in T. Emmel, 1998)
  • Hylephila phyleus muertovalle (Scott, 1981)
  • Hylephila phyleus phyleus (Drury, 1773)

Fiery skippers, along with all other species of skippers and skipperlings, can hold their wings in a "triangle" shape. The forewings are held upright, and the hindwings are folded flat. This position is thought to better absorb the sun's rays.

The fiery skipper lives in North and South America, from Canada to Argentina. It is a migratory species.

  • Mating, female on top
  • Fiery skipper on lantana
  • Fiery skipper on bush sunflower

References


  1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
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