least skipper
(Ancyloxypha numitor)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Least skipper caterpillar is green, slender, and less than ¾″ long. A plate (prothoracic shield) extends across the upper part of the first thoracic segment. The white, forward portion of the shield is about twice as wide as the black, rearward portion. There is a white, two-segmented wax gland along the bottom of each side of abdominal sections 4, 5, and 6. There is a similar, one-segmented wax gland on abdominal segment 7. |
Size |
Wingspan: ¾″ to 1″ |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
Wet meadows, marshes, slow streams |
Biology |
Season |
Three broods from early June to late September |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Hosts |
Grasses |
Adult Food |
Flower nectar |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 10/26/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
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Superfamily |
Papilionoidea (butterflies) |
Family |
Hesperiidae (skippers) |
Subfamily |
Hesperiinae (grass skippers) |
Tribe |
Hesperiini |
Subtribe |
Apaustina |
Genus |
Ancyloxypha |
Skippers have traditionally been placed in their own superfamily Hesperioidea because of their morphological similarity. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Kawahara and Breinholt [2014]) suggests that they share the same common ancestor as other butterfly families, and thus belong in the superfamily, Papilionoidea. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Ancyloxypha longleyi Ancyloxypha puer Hesperia bion Hesperia numitor Heteropterus marginatus Thymelicus puer |
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Common Names |
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least skipper least skipperling |
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Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Mike Poeppe |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Least Skipper Interesting wings. Different in design compared to other butterflies. Neat little butterfly. I see a fly of some sort also was resting on that leaf too. A little added diversity in the photograph. |
John Shier |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Least Skipper |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals |
Ancyloxypha numitor (Least Skipper) |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Least Skipper - August 11, 2013 |
About
Published on Aug 12, 2013 Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Vegetable Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saturday morning, August 11, 2013, 9:02 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_39836; 3:08 min. |
Skipper and Honeybee - August 17, 2013 |
About
Published on Aug 23, 2013 Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) and Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Nectaring "Violet Opera" Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) Flower, Butterfly Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saturday morning, August 17, 2013, 9:34 AM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_41100; 33 sec. |
Visitor Sightings |
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Alfredo Colon |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Mike Poeppe 6/21/2022 |
Location: just west of Houston, MN |
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| Dan W. Andree 8/7/2019 |
Location: It was near a pond and grassy mixed area in rural Norman County, Mn. Interesting wings. Different in design compared to other butterflies. Neat little butterfly. I see a fly of some sort also was resting on that leaf too. A little added diversity in the photograph. |
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| John Shier 7/31/2016 |
Location: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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