This small skipper has a wing span of approximately 1 – 1 1/4 inches. It has very short antennae, shorter then other small orange skippers. Dorsally, the male is yellow-orange with a large black stigma and a narrow, black uneven border. The female is also yellow-orange but has extensive brown markings on the dorsal forewing and a dark brown border around the hindwing. Ventrally, both sexes are yellow-orange and have small, black dots scattered on the hindwing. The caterpillars are a tannish-brown color with 3 lengthwise dark brown stripes. The head is a shiny brown color, and round.
This species is a southern stray which appears in our area in late summer and stays through fall. Look for it nectaring on flowers at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods.
The caterpillars make their shelters among the roots of grasses. The larval host plants are various grasses.
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