Common Names
Common Names in English:
Edwards' Skipperling
Description
Subfamily Hesperiinae
The grass skippers are members of the Family Hesperiidae. Distributed worldwide, they comprise more than 2,000 species, most of which are found in the American tropics. The small to medium-sized adults usually have abruptly angled antennae with an apiculus at the tip . Adults of many temperate species are predominantly orange, while brown is the most common color of the tropical species. Male forewings usually have a brand or stigma with specialized scales . Most species have long proboscises and are avid flower-visitors. Adults flight is rapid, and perching posture is unique: the hindwings are opened at a wider angle than the forewings. Males of most species perch while looking for mates. Caterpillars feed on monocotyledons (grasses and allied plants ) and live in silken leaf nests that sometimes extend underground. Grass skippers typically overwinter as caterpillars within their shelters .
Physical Description
Color:
Fringes are white-tipped. Upperside is brownish orange; forewing cell is brighter. Underside of forewing is brownish orange with black at the lower margin . Underside of hindwing is yellowish with orange on the lower margin.
Size/Age/Growth
Wing span : 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Habitat
Chaparral , open woodland, grasslands, meadows.
Biome: Terrestrial
Biology
Diet
Caterpillar hosts: Possibly sedges (Cyperaceae) or grasses (Poaceae). Adult food: Nectar from flowers including thistle (Cirsium species).
Reproduction
To find receptive females, males patrol the habitat with rapid flight.
Behavior
Flight: One brood in the Rocky Mountains from June-August; multiple broods in west Texas from April-September.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
()
- arthropods
- Class:
Insecta
()
- Insects
- Order:
Lepidoptera
()
- Butterflies, Moths
- Family:
Hesperioidea
()
- Subfamily:
Hesperiinae
()
- Grass Skippers
- Genus:
Oarisma
()
- Specific name:
edwardsii
- Barnes 1897
- Scientific name: - Oarisma edwardsii Barnes 1897
- Specific name:
edwardsii
- Barnes 1897
- Genus:
Oarisma
(
- Subfamily:
Hesperiinae
(
- Family:
Hesperioidea
(
- Order:
Lepidoptera
(
- Class:
Insecta
(
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Oarisma edwardsii (Barnes 1897)
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name .
Similar Species
Members of the genus Oarisma
There are approximately 15 species in this genus:
O. bilineata · O. boeta · O. bruneri · O. calega · O. duolineata · O. edwardsii (Edwards' Skipperling) · O. era · O. garita · O. hylax · O. jura · O. nanus · O. powersheik (Powersheik Skipperling) · O. powesheik (Powesheik Skipperling) · O. poweshiek (Poweshiek Skipperling) · O. stillmani
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Notes
Contributors
- Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
- LepIndex: The Global Lepidoptera Names Index
- MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.
- Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan, Ray E. Stanford, Michael Pogue, coordinators. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: Mountain Prairie Information Node. March 26, 2007.
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2602473
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-185763.0
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEP57030
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 171896
