Fiery Skipper

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The Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is the sole representative of its genus in the United States.

It's an adaptable skipper, found along roadsides and residential areas, wherever the larval food, common lawn grasses, grows. With the exception of the Pacific Northwest and the northern tier states, its range extends from coast to coast.

The short antennae and dark spotted pattern on orange wings are good field identification clues. The top of the wings have an orange color similar to the bottom of the wings, however the top of the wings have dark borders rather than dark spots.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels