# Field Skipper (*Atalopedes campestris*) Field Skippers are small butterflies that love to flutter around fields and meadows. They have beautiful orange and brown wings that can look like they are dancing in the sunlight. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Field Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Atalopedes_campestris_male_1115109.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atalopedes_campestris_male_1115109.jpg) ## Appearance The Field Skipper is a small butterfly, usually orange-brown with darker markings on its wings. It has a chunky body and unique hooked antennae. Its quick, darting flight makes it visually distinct from other, larger butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Atalopedes ## Interesting facts - Adult Field Skippers can taste with their feet to find the best flowers! - Baby Field Skippers are caterpillars that build cozy shelters from grass! - Their antennae have tiny hooks at the end, unlike most other butterflies! - These speedy insects can even fly backwards for a super quick escape! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Flight:** Field Skipper can dart and skip quickly through the air because of its powerful wings that help it evade predators. - **Nectar Snorkel:** Field Skipper has a long, straw-like proboscis that helps them sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. - **Grass Home Builder:** Field Skipper caterpillars can roll and tie grass blades together to create a safe, hidden shelter from danger. - **Hooked Antennae:** Field Skipper has distinctive hooked antennae that help them sense their surroundings and navigate while flying. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 15-25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on grass blades, while adult skippers sip nectar from blooming flowers. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat various grasses; adults exclusively drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Clover, Thistle, Bermudagrass, Crabgrass - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Hunts adults and larvae for food. - **Eaten by:** European Garden Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Traps adults in its sticky webs. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar. - **Eats:** Bermudagrass (*Cynodon dactylon*) — Larvae feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Adults collect nectar and pollen. ## Traits - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and watch from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Field 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 Field Skipper's wingspan? 25-40 mm ### How big is Field Skipper? 15-25 mm ### How long does Field Skipper live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Field Skipper fly? 15-25 km/h ### What does Field Skipper eat? Caterpillars munch on grass blades, while adult skippers sip nectar from blooming flowers. ### Where is Field Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Field Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Charbonneau Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charbonneau-park) — Washington, US · 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: [Field Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-skipper)