Bell'S Roadside-Skipper
ExploreInsects
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
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
1
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
Ability
Rapid Retreat
Bell'S Roadside-Skipper can dart away from danger with incredible speed because of its powerful wing muscles that enable very fast, erratic flight.
Ability
Nectar Straw
Bell'S Roadside-Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip nectar from deep inside flowers like a tiny, flexible straw.
Ability
Stealth Cloak
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
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Bell'S Roadside-Skipper?
The easiest way to identify Bell'S Roadside-Skipper is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
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
How does Bell'S Roadside-Skipper hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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