# Monk Skipper (*Choranthus capucinus*) The Monk Skipper is a small butterfly with beautiful brown and orange wings. They love to flutter around flowers and are often seen in gardens and meadows, sipping nectar. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Meadows ![Monk Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Monk_%28Asbolis_capucinus%29.JPG&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monk_%28Asbolis_capucinus%29.JPG) ## Appearance The Monk Skipper is a robust, dark brown butterfly with a stout body and small orange-yellow spots on its forewings. Its hindwings are plain dark brown, often showing a purplish sheen on the underside. Its hooked antennae are a distinctive skipper trait. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Choranthus ## Interesting facts - Even as adults, they love to sip nectar but sometimes enjoy a drink of tree sap too! - Monk Skippers are named for their dark, cowl-like appearance and their quick, "skipping" flight! - Their caterpillars are picky eaters, dining only on various types of palm leaves! - Unlike most butterflies, skippers have hooked antennae that look like tiny golf clubs! ## Special abilities - **Darting Flight:** Monk Skipper can fly with quick, erratic movements because of its powerful wing muscles that help them dodge predators. - **Leaf Shelter Builder:** Monk Skipper larvae can roll and bind leaves together using silk that helps them create safe, camouflaged homes. - **Nectar Sipper:** Monk Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside flowers for food. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Monk Skippers enjoy sugary nectar from flowers and their caterpillars munch on palm leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat palm leaves, while adults primarily drink flower nectar and tree sap. - **Primary Foods:** Flower Nectar, Tree Sap, Palm Leaves (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Oil Palm (*Elaeis guineensis*) — Larvae eat its leaves. - **Depends on:** [Coconut Palm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coconut-palm) (*Cocos nucifera*) — Caterpillars feed on its fronds. - **Eaten by:** [Social Flycatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/social-flycatcher) (*Myiozetetes similis*) — Birds like flycatchers hunt them. - **Pollinates:** Blue Porterweed (*Stachytarpheta jamaicensis*) — Adults sip nectar, helping flowers. - **Eaten by:** Silver Argiope (*Argiope argentata*) — Orb-weaver spiders trap adults. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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 Always watch butterflies from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Monk 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 Monk Skipper's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Monk Skipper? 15-25 mm ### How long does Monk Skipper live? 14-30 days ### How fast can Monk Skipper fly? 20 km/h ### What does Monk Skipper eat? Monk Skippers enjoy sugary nectar from flowers and their caterpillars munch on palm leaves. ### Where is Monk Skipper usually found? Meadows ### How does Monk Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-tropical-forest-and-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Monkey Jungle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-jungle) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-butterfly-and-nature-conservatory) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see Monk Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/monk-skipper) ## 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: [Monk Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monk-skipper)