Bell's Roadside-Skipper

amblyscirtes belli

The Bell's Roadside-Skipper is a small, colorful butterfly that flits around in open fields. Kids will love watching these butterflies dance from flower to flower on sunny days!

Habitat: Open fields and grasslands

Appearance

The Bell'S Roadside-Skipper is a small, stout-bodied butterfly with dark brown to blackish wings. Its forewings feature small, indistinct white or translucent spots, and its hindwings are typically unmarked. Like other skippers, it has hooked antennae and a stocky appearance, differing from slender true butterflies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyHesperiidaeGenusMastor

Photo: Charles T. and John R. Bryson, , Bugwood.orgCC BY 3.0 us · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Bell's Roadside-Skipper

Interesting facts

The scientific name *Amblyscirtes belli* honors a famous entomologist, Ernest Bell!

Their caterpillars are master builders, rolling grass blades into tiny shelters!

These tiny flyers have antennae with hooks at the end, like a mini grappling hook!

Unlike many butterflies, skippers hold their wings in a unique "delta" shape at rest!

Special abilities

Bell'S Roadside-Skipper can dart away from danger with incredible speed because of its powerful wing muscles that enable very fast, erratic flight.

Bell'S Roadside-Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip nectar from deep inside flowers like a tiny, flexible straw.

Bell'S Roadside-Skipper has drab brown coloration that helps them blend perfectly into dry grasses and dirt, making them incredibly hard to spot.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 25-35 mm
Size: 15-20 mm
Lifespan: 10-25 days
Flight Speed: 12 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various grasses.

Age differences: Larvae eat grass blades as host plants, while adults drink nectar from flowers for energy.

Primary Foods

Nectar
Andropogon gerardii
Sorghastrum nutans
Panicum virgatum

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eats

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this prairie grass.

Pollinates

Canada Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Adults visit its flowers to drink nectar and transfer pollen.

Eaten by

Red Paper Wasp

Polistes carolina

Wasps are generalist predators of butterfly larvae and adults.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Pollinator

Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

Also known as

Bell's SkipperGrassland ButterflyRoadside Skipper

Collections

Insects

Safety

Danger

0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Bell's Roadside-Skipper?

Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

What is Bell's Roadside-Skipper's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Bell's Roadside-Skipper?

15-20 mm

How long does Bell's Roadside-Skipper live?

10-25 days

How fast can Bell's Roadside-Skipper fly?

12 km/h

What does Bell's Roadside-Skipper eat?

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on various grasses.

Where is Bell's Roadside-Skipper usually found?

Open fields and grasslands