Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus (Drury, 1773)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Antennae are very short. Male wide black stigma. Underside of the hindwing is scattered with small black spots. Female: Upperside is dark brown with a very irregular orange band. Underside of hindwing is pale brown with paler checks.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch in lawns and grassy swales to wait for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly under leaves and also on other plants and objects. Caterpillars eat leaves and roll and tie them to make shelters which lie horizontally in the sod.
Flight: Several broods from May-August in the north, all year in Florida and South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), crabgrass (Digitaria), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and other grasses.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of a variety of plants including sweet pepperbush, swamp milkweed, asters, sneezeweed, knapweed, ironweed, and thistles.
Habitat: Sunny, open areas such as fields, lawns, gardens, levees, roadsides, and second-growth scrub.
Range: Southern United States south through the West Indies and Central America to Argentina. Cannot survive harsh winters; each summer this skipper may stray and re-colonize north to northern California, southern Minnesota, southern Ontario, and southern New England.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Hylephia phyleus
Hylephilia phyleus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 337 - 360 of 4497 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: crprice
Region: Ripley County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2006
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 25, 2022
Submitted by: G215
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 03, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Oct 03, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2023
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 05, 2022
Submitted by: emilydodge
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2022
Submitted by: emilydodge
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2022
Submitted by: emilydodge
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 05, 2022
Submitted by: emilydodge
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: Apr 27, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 30, 2022
Submitted by: Barometz
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 17, 2023
Observation date: Apr 18, 2023
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 13, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 13, 2023
Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 04, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: ThatNostalgicCarp
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2023
Observation date: Mar 10, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
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