
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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