🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

Found in three subspecies, the Fiery Skipper butterfly has a unique look in the sense that they are often mistaken for having only two wings, instead of four, because of their posture of sitting on their host flowers. These are small creatures with a body length of only about an inch or so.

The mature larva is about 0.5 inches in size, with a white body marked with black spots and long spines. The orange head has two black horns, while there is also a yellow anal plate. They remain solitary or form small groups of 2 to 3 individuals.

When the wings are open, the males show orange or yellow wings having dark spots all over, while the females have a dark brown base with yellow to orange spots. When the wings are closed, the same patterns are displayed, but in a much fainter contrast.

These are common lawn pests: As a caterpillar, the fiery skipper creates brown spots in lawns that are about 2 inches long. Infestations may occur, showing multiple spots that link together in an irregular patch. Eggs are laid under grass leaves.