The Zabulon Skipper has a thick, hairy body and hooked antennae, giving it a somewhat moth-like appearance. Males have black wing borders and no stigma. The underside of the male hindwing is mostly yellow with a dark brown base and outer margin.

The upperside of the female is purple brown with pale yellow spots, while the underside of the hindwing is brown and purple gray with a white edged costal margin.

 

Male

“Zabulon Skipper” by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Female

“Zabulon Skipper” by Anita Gould, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

 

Zabulon Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/8 – 1 5/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Brushy openings near moist forests and streams

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

• Lovegrass (Eragrostis spp.)

• Purpletop Tridens (Tridens flavus)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

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

• Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

• Wild Petunia (Ruellia spp.)