Species Detail

Baracoa Skipper

Polites baracoa (Lucas, 1857)

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Attributes of Polites baracoa

Family: Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)

Identification: Upperside is dark brown; forewing with orange bars; male forewing with a very short stigma. Underside is brown; forewing markings repeated; hindwing with a row of pale spots.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: Several broods from March-November.

Wing span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Grasses.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Grassy places near marshes and streams.

Range: Peninsular Florida, neighboring areas of south Georgia and southern Alabama, and the West Indies.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.