Swarthy Skipper
ExploreInsects
Swarthy Skipper
nastra lherminier
The Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier) is a small, energetic butterfly belonging to the 'grass skipper' subfamily. Known for its rapid and erratic flight, it is a common inhabitant of open, grassy areas across the eastern United States. Despite its unassuming brown coloration, this species plays an important role in its ecosystem as both a pollinator and a food source. Its life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to an adult butterfly, is a testament to the intricate transformations within the insect world. Spotting a Swarthy Skipper often requires a keen eye due to its swift movements and cryptic appearance, making it a rewarding discovery for nature enthusiasts.
Habitat: Found in various open, sunny habitats including fields, meadows, roadsides, woodland edges, and powerline clearings.
Appearance
This small butterfly typically has an overall dark brown appearance. The upperside of its wings is uniformly dark with minimal markings, though some individuals may exhibit faint, dark brown spots. The underside of the hindwings is a solid dark brown, lacking any distinct spots or patterns, which is a key identifying feature distinguishing it from other similar-looking skippers. Its body is also dark brown. It possesses the characteristic chunky body and hooked antennae (club-like with a pointed tip) common to skippers, and its wings are relatively small and pointed.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyHesperiidaeGenusNastra
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Despite their small size and dark coloration, adult Swarthy Skippers are important pollinators for many wildflowers in their habitat.
The Swarthy Skipper exhibits a very rapid, often described as 'skipping' or 'darting,' flight pattern that gave the entire family Hesperiidae their common name.
The caterpillars create small, silken shelters by folding grass blades, which helps them hide from predators and provides a microhabitat for feeding and growth.
Unlike many butterflies that hold their wings flat or together, skippers often perch with their forewings and hindwings held at different angles, creating a distinctive 'delta' shape.
Special abilities
Ability
Erratic Flight Pattern
Swarthy Skippers are known for their extremely fast and unpredictable flight, often darting quickly between flowers or perches. This makes them difficult for predators to catch and challenging for human observers to follow.
Ability
Larval Leaf Shelter
The caterpillars of the Swarthy Skipper construct shelters by folding and tying together blades of their host grass plants with silk. These shelters provide protection from predators and adverse weather during their developmental stages.
Ability
Nectar Foraging Efficiency
Adult Swarthy Skippers are highly adept at rapidly extracting nectar from small flowers. Their specialized proboscis and quick movements allow them to efficiently gather sustenance from numerous blossoms in a short period.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 0-1 cm
- Wingspan
- 2-3 cm
- Weight
- 0.0001-0.001 kg
- Lifespan
- 0 years
- Top Speed
- 15 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 50-100
- Incubation
- 4-7 days
Diet & Feeding
Adult Swarthy Skippers primarily feed on nectar from various small flowers, while their larvae are herbivorous, consuming the leaves of specific grass species.
Age differences: Yes, larvae feed on grass leaves, while adults feed on nectar.
Primary Foods
- Nectar from buttonbush
- Nectar from dogbane
- Nectar from white clover
- Nectar from pickerelweed
- Leaves of little bluestem grass
- Leaves of various other grasses
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Swarthy Skipper?
The easiest way to identify Swarthy Skipper is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Swarthy Skipper?
0-1 cm
What is Swarthy Skipper's wingspan?
2-3 cm
How much does Swarthy Skipper weigh?
0.0001-0.001 kg
How long does Swarthy Skipper live?
0 years
How fast can Swarthy Skipper move?
15 km/h
What does Swarthy Skipper eat?
Adult Swarthy Skippers primarily feed on nectar from various small flowers, while their larvae are herbivorous, consuming the leaves of specific grass species.
Where is Swarthy Skipper usually found?
Found in various open, sunny habitats including fields, meadows, roadsides, woodland edges, and powerline clearings.
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