Hylephila phyleus
fiery skipper

Fiery skippers range in the Nearctic region throughout the southern United States and east toward the Atlantic. They are not found, however, in the Rockies or the Great Basin. Their southern range extends into the Subtropical region to Argentina and the Antilles. In North America, fiery skippers immigrate into northern areas but cannot overwinter in any life stage in regions that have harsh winters. (Iftner, et al., 1992; Opler, 1984; Pyle, 1995; Scott, 1986; Blue and Parks, ; )

Fiery skippers are found most often in open areas, grassy fields, meadows, lawns, and alfalfa and clover fields. (Iftner, et al., 1992; Pyle, 1995)

Extremely short antennae distinquish fiery skippers. They are less than 1/2 the length of the forewing. Females are yellowish-brown with small dark spots, males are fiery orange/yellow with a zigzagged border and a large black stigma (a gland used to excrete pheremones) on the forewing. Their wingspans run between 1.0 - 1.25 inches, with the females slightly larger. (Iftner, et al., 1992; Pyle, 1995)

The larvae of fiery skippers are tan colored and densely covered with short haris. They have three dark lateral stripes, and a large, dark head that looks segmented from the rest of the body. (Pyle, 1995)

The eggs are glossy, and pale turquoise/green and are hemispherically shaped (Opler, 1984; Pyle, 1995; Scott, 1986)

The chrysalis of fiery skippers are light tan in color with a black dorsal line than runs from end to end. (Pyle, 1995)

Fiery skippers develop from eggs to larvae, larvae to pupae, and pupae into chrysalis. The adults emerge from the chrysalis and fly off to mate and start the process over again.

Male fiery skippers will perch close to the ground on twigs or blades of grass and await females. The fluttering of any winged insect passing by will evoke a response from the waiting males. (Opler, 1984)

In the southern parts of their range, fiery skippers have many broods. If they are able to immigrate into northern areas, they may have a single brood in late summer. (Scott, 1986)

Eggs are laid singly on the undersides of leaves, and occasionally on other plants and objects. Eggs are placed on weedy grasses such as crabgrass Digiteria spp. and Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon. (Opler, 1984)

Butterflies are not know to exhibit parental care.

Fiery skippers are fast, darting butterflies. (Iftner, et al., 1992)

The larvae roll and tie leaves to make nests, which tend to be horizontal in lawn settings. (Pyle, 1995; Scott, 1986)

Like other butterflies, pheromones are likely important in communication of fiery skippers.

Fiery skipper larvae eat a variety of grasses in the Poaceae family, including bent grass Agrostis, sugar cane Sacchiniarum officinarum, bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon, and St. Augustine grass Stenotaphrum secundatum. (Pyle, 1995)

Nectar flowers favored by fiery skippers include red clover Trifolium pratense, alfalfa Medicago sativa, white asters Aster spp., thistles Circium, ironweed Vernonia, knapweed Centaurea, sneezeweed Helenium autumnale, and milkweed Asclepia. (Iftner, et al., 1992; Opler, 1984)

Predators of all life stages of butterflies include a variety of insect parasatoids. These wasps or flies will consume the body fluids first, and then eat the internal organs, ultimately killing the butterfly. Those wasps that lay eggs inside the host body include Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Scelionidae, Trichogrammatidae, and others. Trichogrammatidae live inside the eggs, and are smaller than a pinhead. certain flies (Tachinidae, some Sarcophagida, etc.) produce large eggs and glue them onto the outside of the host. The hatching larvae then burrow into the butterfly larvae. Other flies will lays many small eggs directly on the larval hostplants, and these are ingested by the caterpillars as they feed. (Scott, 1986)

Most predators of butterflies are other insects. Praying mantis, lacewings, ladybird beetles, assasin bugs, carabid beetles, spiders, ants, and wasps (Vespidae, Pompilidae, and others) prey upon the larvae. Adult butterflies are eaten by robber flies, ambush bugs, spiders, dragonflies, ants, wasps (Vespidae and Sphecidae), and tiger beetles. The sundew plant is known to catch some butterflies. (Scott, 1986)

Fiery skippers are minor pollinators and also serve as prey for a variety of predators.

In regions where fiery skippers are less common, they may attract butterfly enthusiasts who contribute to local economies.

Fiery skipper larvae are considered lawn pests in some parts of their range. (Costa, et al., 2000)

Fiery skippers are stable across their range and of no conservation concern at the present time.

The name Hylephila phyleus is derived from the greek words hyle, which means forest, and philos meaning loving. (Opler, 1984)

Other common names include banded skipper, bordered skipper, great-headed skipper, and wedge-marked skipper. Previously used scientific names for the fiery skipper are Papilio phyleus, H. phareus, Hesperia carin, H. bucephalus, and H. hala. (Miller, 1992; Miller and Brown, 1981)