The Bell’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a dark skipper that is easy to overlook because it flies along the ground and is often confused with the Pepper and Salt Skipper. The markings seen along the wing fringes are checkered with black and cream colors. The underside of the wings is dark brown to black with many small white spots and grayish over scaling except at the wing apex. The upperside of the wings is black, with numerous tiny white spots on the forewing.

 

“Bell’s Roadside-Skipper” by Jim Arterburn, licensed by (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

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

Butterfly Habitat: Grassy areas near creeks, in woodland openings and edges, and city gardens

 

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Indian Wood Oats Grass
• River Oat Grass

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers
  • Lantana
  • Zinnia
  • Red Clover
  • Hoary Puccoon
  • Abelia