The Yehl Skipper is found from southeastern Virginia west to southwestern Missouri and south to eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and northern Florida. This species shows distinctive sexual dimorphism in its color pattern. Males are mostly orange, while females are primarily brown.

The upperside of the wings is bright orange with broad black borders. Males also have a linear stigma on the forewing. The underside of the hindwings is dark brown in females and orange or yellow in males. Both sexes display a slightly curved row of three to five cream colored post-medial spots near the center of the hindwing.

 

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Yehl Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 5/16 – 1 3/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Clearings in wet or swampy woodlands

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the native grasses where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Switchcane (Arundinaria tecta)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

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

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Chinquapin (Castanea pumila)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)