I was so excited to see this cute lil guy darting about my garden today. I love attracting a variety of butterflies, moths, and pollinators to my yard, and I want to learn more about where they come from and what they need to thrive. Here’s how to attract more of these fast-flying fiery skippers:
Host plants: They love grasses, such as Bermuda grass, Crab grass, Kentucky Blue, and St Augustine. The female skipper will lay small white eggs on the blades of grass that gradually turn bluish. Caterpillars are nocturnal and will munch on the grass at night, while curling up in a single blade during the day. Another reason to cut back on our mowing, in my opinion!
Where you’ll find them: They fly low to the ground, especially in grassy areas near flowers, roadsides, and ditches. They are actually more common in residential areas than parks or conservations.
Nectar plants: They aren’t picky! They will likely use almost any nectar source, but I notice them on my duranta and porterweed.
Resources:
http://www.wildsouthflorida.com/fiery.skipper.butterfly.html