Species Detail

Twin-spot Skipper

Oligoria maculata (W.H. Edwards, 1865)

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Attributes of Oligoria maculata

Family: Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae)

Identification: Wings are rounded and brown-black. Upperside of forewing has 4 transparent spots. Underside of hindwing has a pale red-brown overlay and 3 oval white spots, 2 of which are close together.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: Two broods from April-September, possibly three broods in Florida.

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Grasses.

Adult food: Nectar including that from pickerelweed flowers.

Habitat: Coastal swamps and pinewoods.

Range: Coastal North Carolina south through Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to east Texas. A rare stray to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.