The Least Skipper is aptly named, as it is the smallest skipper in the state. It is often seen flying low through tall grasses near ponds, small lakes, rivers, and streams, where it flutters close to the vegetation with a delicate, bouncing flight.

The underside of the hindwing is orange, while the forewing is either entirely black or black with orange along the costal margin and in the central area. On the upperside, the hindwing is golden orange with a broad black border. The forewing is black with orange along the tip, margin, and inner edge.

The abdomen is white underneath, orange along the sides, and marked with a black stripe running down the center of the back.

 

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Least Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 7/8 – 1 1/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Moist or wet open places with tall grasses, marshes, ditches, slow streams, hillsides, or old fields with tall grasses

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Bristle Grass (Setaria spp.)

• Cordgrass (Spartina spp.)

• Marsh Millet (Zizaniopsis miliacea)

• Panic Grass (Panicum spp.)

• Rice Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Least Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.)

• Chicory (Cichorium intybus) (non-native)

• Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

• Smartweed (Persicaria spp.)

• Swamp Vervain (Verbena hastata)

• Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.)