Skipper Butterfly

*Hesperiidae*

Content coming soon for this insect guide.

Insect Profile

Beneficial Rating

+4 Beneficial

Active Months

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

US Distribution

NortheastSoutheastMidwestSouthwestWestPacific Northwest

Habitat Preferences

gardensmeadowswoodland clearingsgladesriverbanksfield margins

Taxonomic Group

Butterfly

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Hesperiidae

Lifecycle

The life cycle of skipper butterflies varies slightly between species. For the Small Skipper, the female lays eggs on tall grass stems, which hatch in approximately three weeks. The resulting caterpillars consume their eggshells and then spin cocoons to overwinter. In the spring, they emerge to feed within protective tubes constructed from grass blades. After a feeding period of about two months, they pupate, and the adult butterflies emerge in two to three weeks. The Large Skipper lays its eggs on the undersides of grass blades. The caterpillars feed within a tube made from a leaf blade until September, at which point they create a larger, more robust tube for overwintering. They resume feeding in the spring before pupating, with adults emerging after a three-week pupal stage.

Overwintering Strategy

Overwinters as a caterpillar in a cocoon or a protective tube made of grass.

Native Range

Worldwide

Attracted By

coneflowersastersmilkweedsclovermarigolds

Companion Planting

To support skipper butterflies, interplant their preferred nectar sources like coneflowers, asters, and milkweeds among vegetable and fruit crops. Planting native grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda grass on the borders of the garden or in designated wild patches will provide essential food and habitat for their larvae. This strategy helps to attract these beneficial pollinators to the garden, which can improve the yields of many crops.