
	Description
	Least skipper caterpillar is green, slender, and less than ¾″ long. A plate (prothoracic shield) extends across the upper part of the first thoracic segment. The white, forward portion of the shield is about twice as wide as the black, rearward portion. There is a white, two-segmented wax gland along the bottom of each side of abdominal sections 4, 5, and 6. There is a similar, one-segmented wax gland on abdominal segment 7.

	Size
	Wingspan: ¾″ to 1″

	Similar Species



	Habitat
	Wet meadows, marshes, slow streams


	Biology
	Season
	Three broods from early June to late September

	Behavior


	Life Cycle


	Larva Hosts
	Grasses

	Adult Food
	Flower nectar


	Taxonomy
	Order	Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
	Superfamily	Papilionoidea (butterflies)
	Family	Hesperiidae (skippers)
	Subfamily	Hesperiinae (grass skippers)
	Tribe	Hesperiini
	Subtribe	Apaustina
	Genus	Ancyloxypha

	Skippers have traditionally been placed in their own superfamily Hesperioidea because of their morphological similarity. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Kawahara and Breinholt [2014]) suggests that they share the same common ancestor as other butterfly families, and thus belong in the superfamily, Papilionoidea.

	Synonyms
	Ancyloxypha longleyi Hesperia bion Heteropterus marginatus Thymelicus puer

	Common Names
	least skipper


	Visitor Photos

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	Mike Poeppe




	Dan W. Andree

	Least Skipper Interesting wings. Different in design compared to other butterflies. Neat little butterfly. I see a fly of some sort also was resting on that leaf too. A little added diversity in the photograph.


	John Shier





	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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	Least Skipper DianesDigitals

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	Ancyloxypha numitor (Least Skipper) Allen Chartier

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	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	Least Skipper - August 11, 2013 Don Gagnon

	About Published on Aug 12, 2013 Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Vegetable Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saturday morning, August 11, 2013, 9:02 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_39836; 3:08 min.



	Skipper and Honeybee - August 17, 2013 Don Gagnon

	About Published on Aug 23, 2013 Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) and Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Nectaring "Violet Opera" Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) Flower, Butterfly Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saturday morning, August 17, 2013, 9:34 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_41100; 33 sec.

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Visitor Sightings

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Mike Poeppe 6/21/2022	Location: just west of Houston, MN



Dan W. Andree 8/7/2019	Location: It was near a pond and grassy mixed area in rural Norman County, Mn. Interesting wings. Different in design compared to other butterflies. Neat little butterfly. I see a fly of some sort also was resting on that leaf too. A little added diversity in the photograph.



John Shier 7/31/2016	Location: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA



MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Maplewood State Park St. Croix Savanna SNA

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least skipper