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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies Lepidoptera Hesperiidae Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper |
Size:
wingspread 1.25-1.25 in. Recognition: Sexually dimorphic; male is yellow-orange above, with brown edges, female predominantly dark above; underside of hindwings orange, with arc of small dark spots, those of female much paler, with dark spots at outer edges of clearly lighter band; antennae short. Flight period: Adults active much of the year, passing through multiple generations. Hostplants: Larvae feed on weedy grasses such as crabgrass and Bermuda grass (Cynodon). Habitat: Found in various open, such as sunny fields and forest edges; very common in urban areas, such as lawns and parks. Distribution: The range of this skipper extends through the southern half of the U.S., south into Mexico. Other: The Fiery Skipper one of the most common urban butterflies in our area. |