Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Baracoa Skipper
Polites baracoa (Lucas, 1857)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: 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.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: Several broods from March-November.
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.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL