Insect · GBIF taxon 5715127
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleusFiery skippers are energetic, low-flying butterflies renowned for their rapid, darting flight pattern across open sunny spaces. Males aggressively guard territory from elevated grass blades or garden flowers, flashing their vivid golden-orange wings to challenge rivals and court females. Caterpillars construct silken tubes at the base of turfgrasses, emerging at night to feed on leaves before transforming into adults.
PollinatorFast FlyerUrban Wildlife
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower nectar
- Bermudagrass
- Crabgrass
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsLawn pesticide treatments, severe winter freezes
HabitatsLawns, parks, gardens, pastures, fields, road shoulders
Life span1–3 weeks as adult; 1–2 months life cycle
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyHesperiidae
- GenusHylephila
- SpeciesHylephila phyleus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting males: Look for bright orange butterflies perching low on sunny grass blades or blooms.
- Attracting adults: Plant nectar-rich flowers like lantana, zinnias, clover, and lavender in sunny garden spots.
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org / CC BY 3.0 us · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
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Mystic Meadows
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