Sunday, July 5, 2009

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

Apart from the Buckeyes, Fiery Skippers are the most numerous butterflies on the butterfly bush at the moment. At least a dozen are on the bush at any one time. They’re the first to arrive in the morning – before it has really warmed up – and the last to leave in the evening, long after the sun has sunk behind the woods across the road.
Occasionally one will pose with its wings open, but not very often.

This is it’s usual pose, wings folded. They do have the prettiest eyes.

Identification resources:
- West Central Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm: Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

- BugGuide: Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

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