Fiery skipper

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure

Minnesota

not listed

Fiery skipper is a common, easily recognized, grass skipper. It occurs in North America and South America. In the United States it occurs from New Hampshire to Florida, west to South Dakota and California. It is one of just a few skippers that migrate north each year. It arrives in Minnesota usually in late August and September, but sometimes as early as late July. It does not survive the winter. It rarely migrates as far north as Lake Superior.

Fiery skipper is found in open areas, including meadows, fields, roadsides, gardens, and weedy lawns. Larvae feed on a variety of grasses, including Bermuda grass, crabgrass, and bent grass. Adults feed on flower nectar.

Adults are about 1″ (25 mm) in length and have a 1″ to 1¼″ (25 to 31 mm) wingspan. Females are slightly larger than males. The antennae are knobbed and very short, less than half as long as the forewing.

On the male the upperside of the forewing is bright orangish-yellow or yellowish-orange with brown markings. The intensity of the spots is variable, from faint dull brown to sharp black. There is a narrow, very dark border on the outer margin with several narrow, elongated spots extending forward, making it appear toothed. Near the middle of the wing there is a large patch of brown, specialized, scent scales (stigma). There is a similar but smaller patch between the stigma and the wingtip. The upperside of the hindwing is similar but it has a broad band on the inner margin and a large patch on the leading edge (costal margin). The underside of both wings is orangish-yellow or yellowish-orange with several scattered small brown spots representing the medial, postmedial, and submarginal bands. This is a uniquely identifying feature. No other skipper in our area has this pattern on the underside of the hindwing.

The female is dark brown above with orangish-yellow or yellowish-orange spots. The postmedial band is a row of large rectangular spots. The spot in the middle extends toward and sometimes connects with a similar spot in the basal area. Together, the spots create an inward pointing “arrow”. There is also a row of three small spots, the “wrist bracelet”, near the costal margin in the subapical area. The underside of both wings is similar to the male.

Size

Total length: about 1″ (25 mm)

Wingspan: 1″ to 1¼″ (25 to 31 mm)

Similar Species

Meadows, fields, roadsides, gardens, weedy lawns

Season

Late August to early October

Behavior

Fiery skipper is a fast flier.

Life Cycle

Larva Food/Hosts

Grasses

Adult Food

Flower nectar