Species Hesperia metea - Cobweb Skipper

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Hesperioidea (Skippers)

Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)

Subfamily Hesperiinae (Grass Skippers)

Genus Hesperia (Branded Skippers)

Species metea (Cobweb Skipper)

Size

average wingspan 30mm

Identification

Ventral HW and FW are variably marked with white veins and a white V shaped chevron, forming a cobweb appearance.

Dorsal male mostly brown with a wrist bracelet and 2 spots near the outer FW margin. Female FW with a series of jagged FW spots.

Range

Maine to Georgia, and accross to eastern Texas. Some populations in the Wisconsin area.

Habitat

Dry habitats with beardgrass.

Season

Southern populations March/April, northern populations May/June.

Food

Bluestem

Life Cycle

Overwinters as a pupa.

Print References

(1)

(2)

Works Cited

1.	Butterflies of the East Coast : An Observer's Guide By Rick Cech, Guy Tudor

2.	Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides) By Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman

Contributed by tom murray on 21 May, 2006 - 7:58am

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