Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
Summary 4
The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and are approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass.
Habitat 5
Fiery skippers are found most often in open areas, grassy fields, meadows, lawns, and alfalfa and clover fields.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural
Behaviour 6
Like other butterflies, pheromones are likely important in communication of fiery skippers.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Sources and Credits
- (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Hesperiidae/Hesperiinae/Hylephila_p_phyleus/Hylephila_p._phyleus_F_USA_TEXAS_Hidalgo_Co._Weslaco_25-II-2005_222_BOUTON.jpg
- (c) Mathesont, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/44055945@N06/4939705624/
- (c) Adam Dewan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/diverdewan/6019362458/
- Adapted by kmarie333 from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylephila_phyleus
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31398753
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31398757
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Animal Diversity Web
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- BugGuide
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- CalPhotos
- CUIC Insect Images
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- Maryland Biodiversity Project
- Maryland Moths
- Mass Moths
- Moth Photographers Group
- Moths of North Carolina
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- Pacific Northwest Moths
