Least Skipper

Description:

Antennae are short. Upperside of forewing is orange with a wide, diffuse black border at the outer margin; hindwing is yellow-orange with a wide black margin. Underside of forewing is black with orange borders at the tip and leading edge; hindwing is yellow-orange. Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Habitat:

Moist or wet open places with tall grasses, marshes, ditches, slow streams, hillsides, or old fields with tall grasses. This one was photographed at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park near Augusta, GA.

Notes:

Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including marsh millet (Zizaniopsis miliacea), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). Adult Food: Flower nectar from low growing plants such as wood sorrel, swamp verbena, pickerelweed, chickory, and white clover.