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Fiery Skipper

Hylephila phyleus

The Fiery Skipper is a small butterfly with bright orange and brown wings. They love to flutter around flowers and are often seen in sunny places during warm months.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Fiery Skipper is a small butterfly with a robust body and distinctly triangular wings. Males have bright orange-yellow forewings with scattered black spots, while females are duller, often brownish-orange with darker markings. They are visually different from true butterflies by their hooked antennae and thicker bodies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyHesperiidaeGenusHylephila
Fiery Skipper
social trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Fiery Skipper

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Even though tiny, these skippers can migrate surprisingly long distances each year!

Fiery Skippers get their name from their amazing "skipping" flight pattern, not smooth flying!

Their caterpillars are sometimes called "lawn worms" because they munch on grass!

Unlike most butterflies, skippers have antennae with little hooks at the very end.

Special abilities

Ability

Turbo Flight

Fiery Skippers can dart quickly and erratically through the air because of their powerful wing muscles that helps them evade predators.

Ability

Sweet Sip Straw

Fiery Skippers have a long, coiled proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers.

Ability

Leafy Hideout Builder

Fiery Skipper caterpillars can roll and tie leaves together that helps them create a safe, camouflaged shelter from hungry birds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-35 mm
Size
10-15 mm
Lifespan
10-14 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adult Fiery Skippers sip flower nectar, while their hungry caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

Age differences: Larvae eat grasses, adults sip nectar.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • Bermudagrass
  • St. Augustinegrass
  • crabgrass

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Bermudagrass

Cynodon dactylon

Larvae feed on its leaves.

eats

Sugarcane

Saccharum officinarum

Larvae sometimes feed on it.

pollinates

Wild Carrot

Daucus carota

Adults visit its flowers.

eaten by

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Birds prey on larvae and adults.

Traits

Also known as

Fiery Skipper Butterfly

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch. Don't try to catch them; just enjoy their beauty!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fiery Skipper's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Fiery Skipper?

10-15 mm

How long does Fiery Skipper live?

10-14 days

How fast can Fiery Skipper fly?

15 km/h

What does Fiery Skipper eat?

Adult Fiery Skippers sip flower nectar, while their hungry caterpillars munch on various types of grass.

Where is Fiery Skipper usually found?

Grasslands

How does Fiery Skipper hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Fiery Skipper have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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