Orange Skipperling Orange Skipperling


Butterflies of Southern Arizona


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Orange Skipperling.
Copaeodes aurantiaca.
Skipper (Hesperiidae) Family.

Identification: Both upper- and lowerside are orange. Upperside of male forewing has a narrow black stigma below the cell; female may have narrow black edging on the forewing. Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (1.9 - 2.9 cm). Life History: Adults have a very rapid flight. To warm themselves, adults bask in the early morning, and males perch in gulches during the day to find receptive females. Flight: Many broods from February-November in Texas; March-December in southern California; April-October in the north. Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses (Poaceae) including Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and green spangletop (Leptochloa dubia). Adult Food: Nectar from a variety of flowers. Habitat: Grasslands, grassy streamsides, fields, washes. Range: Southern California, southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west Texas south through Central America to Panama. Strays to eastern Texas, central Arkansas, central Kansas, and Colorado.

Santa Catalina Mountains
Sabino Canyon.
Location: On Camphorweed in riparian area above dam

Note: antennae are not transversely banded unlike Tropical Least Skipper (agreed by Fred Heath)
1/7/22

Notes: IDd with Fred Heath, Mary Klinkel, Marty Horowitz

See Butterflies and Moths of North America Pictures and Description

Thumb: Tropical Least Skipper
« T. L. Skipper
Thumb: White-patched Skipper
Wp. Skipper »