# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Open fields and grasslands - **Also known as:** Bell's Skipper, Grassland Butterfly, Roadside Skipper ![Bell's Roadside-Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Amblyscirtes_belli_2191021.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles T. and John R. Bryson, , Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amblyscirtes_belli_2191021.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Mastor ## 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 - **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. - **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. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-bluestem) (*Andropogon gerardii*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this prairie grass. - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 ### How does Bell's Roadside-Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Greenleaf State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenleaf-state-park) — Oklahoma, US · State Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bell's Roadside-Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bells-roadside-skipper)