The Fiery Skipper is a small, bright yellow-orange butterfly with a distinctive appearance and behavior. It is often mistaken for having only two wings due to the way it perches with its hindwings hidden beneath the forewings while resting or feeding on flowers. This posture gives it a more compact, triangular look that sets it apart from many other skippers.

The Fiery Skipper is best identified from the side, where the underwings are visible. The hindwings are marked with small brownish black spots. In males, these spots are set against a vivid orange background, while females have a duller, brown toned background with more muted markings. This sexual dimorphism helps distinguish the two in the field.

 

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Fiery Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Sunny, open areas such as fields, lawns, gardens, levees, roadsides, and second-growth scrub

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon)

• Bent Grass (Agrostis spp.)

• Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)

• St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)

• Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Fiery Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:Florida Native Garden+1Florida Museum+1

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

• Giant Hyssop (Agastache spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

• Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

• White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)