The Least Skipper butterfly is aptly named, as it is the smallest skipper in the state. This skipper is often seen flying very low through tall grasses adjacent to ponds, small lakes, rivers, or streams. The underside of the hindwing is orange; the forewing is entirely black, or black with orange along the costal margin and in the central portion of the wing. The upperside of the hindwing is golden orange with a broad black border; the forewing is black with an orange tip, margin, and border. The abdomen is white underneath, orange along the sides, and with a black mid-dorsal stripe.

 

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Least Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 7/8 – 1 1/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Moist or wet open places with tall grasses, marshes, ditches, slow streams, hillsides, or old fields with tall grasses

 

Least Skipper Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Blue Grass
• Rice Cut Grass
• Bristle Grass
• Panic Grass
• Marsh Millet Grass
• Common Reed Grass
• Cogon Grass

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers
  • Wood Sorrel
  • Swamp Verbena
  • Chickory
  • White Clover
  • Pickerelweed
  • Smartweed
  • Arrowhead