Whirlabout Skipper Butterfly
Polites vibex
Identification: Males and females are very different.
Male: Upperside is yellow-orange; forewing has a black stigma and neighboring black square patch; black margins of hindwing are smooth inwardly. Underside is yellow-orange; hindwing has a few large blurred black spots.
Female: Upperside is dark brown; forewing has a few clear spots. Underside is gray or sooty yellow with a central pale patch outlined with dark scales.
Butterfly Size: 1 – 1 1/2 inches
Habitats: Scrubby or open habitats including dunes, fields, pinewoods, roadsides, forest openings, yards, and parks
Plants for the Whirlabout Skipper Butterfly
HOST PLANTS
Grasses including:
- Bermuda grass
- St. Augustine grass
- thin paspalum
FOOD PLANTS
Nectar from flowers including:
- shepherd’s needle
- lantana
- verbena
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We need your help to continue to protect, promote, and celebrate the resources, people, and culture of the Lower Delta.
WHAT WE DO
Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership promotes and enhances the economic and environmental health of Mississippi’s Lower Delta.
We provide educational workshops and cultural programs; community and youth activities; encourage heritage, cultural, and nature tourism in our region; and act as an advocate for the South Delta.
