# Ocola Skipper (*Panoquina ocola*) The Ocola Skipper is a small, colorful butterfly that loves to flutter around flowers. Its wings are brown with bright orange spots, making it look like a tiny piece of art in nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ocola Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ocola_-_Panoquina_ocola%252C_Julie_Metz_Wetlands%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia_-_29240580203.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ocola_-_Panoquina_ocola%252C_Julie_Metz_Wetlands%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia_-_29240580203.jpg) ## Appearance The Ocola Skipper is a small butterfly with a stout, dark brown body and dark olive-brown wings. Its forewings may feature small, faint white to yellow spots. It is visually distinct from similar skippers by its often unmarked hindwings and rapid, darting flight pattern. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Panoquina ## Interesting facts - Ocola Skippers often hold their wings in a unique "delta" shape while resting! - The name "skipper" comes from their fast, skipping-like flight style! - Their caterpillars are masters of camouflage, blending perfectly with grass blades! - These tiny fliers are important pollinators for many wild flowers and plants! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Dodger:** Ocola Skippers can dart quickly and erratically through the air, making them incredibly hard for predators to catch! - **Nectar Sipper:** Ocola Skippers have a long proboscis, a straw-like mouthpart that helps them sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. - **Leaf Roller:** Ocola Skipper caterpillars can roll grass blades around themselves, creating a cozy, hidden shelter from hungry birds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Ocola Skippers sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grasses. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat grass blades; adults feed solely on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Bahiagrass (*Paspalum notatum*) — larvae feed on leaves - **Pollinates:** [Lantana](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lantana) (*Lantana camara*) — adults visit flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — hunts adults on flowers - **Eats:** Bermudagrass (*Cynodon dactylon*) — larval host plant ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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 Ocola 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 Ocola Skipper's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Ocola Skipper? 15-25 mm ### How long does Ocola Skipper live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Ocola Skipper fly? 15 km/h ### What does Ocola Skipper eat? Adult Ocola Skippers sip flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on various types of grasses. ### Where is Ocola Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Ocola Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Longwood Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/longwood-gardens) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Reedville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reedville-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Mellwood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mellwood-park) — Maryland, US · Park [View all places to see Ocola Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ocola-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: [Ocola Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocola-skipper)