Least Skipper

Meet a Least Skipper, no doubt named for its small size, though the Southern Skipperling is a little smaller. (My guess is that the person naming the Least Skipper were unaware of the Southern Skipperling, a species common from South Carolina to Texas but unlikely to be seen elsewhere.)

These guys are considered grass skippers due to them eating grass during their caterpillar youth. Of course, grass skipper caterpillars aren't like having a cow or a goat; I doubt you'd ever notice the grass they eat.

In keeping with their smaller size, they have a rep for nectaring on smaller flowers than other skippers.

July 28, 2021 at Sourland Mountain Preserve
Photo 148655212, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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