Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010
Copaeodes minima
This record describes Copaeodes minima (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very small. Orange above and below, white stripe along underside of wing. Female wing may be narrowly edged with black. Wings are very angular compared to the Least Skipper , and have less black.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Copaeodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grassy areas.
Geographic Range
Southeastern US - Alabama east to North Carolina, west to Texas, south to Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in FL, two broods further north.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae host on Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) and other grasses.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Copaeodes minima. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Jason D. Roberts , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010
What is Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010?
Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 (Copaeodes minima) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010?
The smallest North American skipper, wing span 16 - 22 mm.
How do you identify Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010?
Very small. Orange above and below, white stripe along underside of wing. Female wing may be narrowly edged with black. Wings are very angular compared to the Least Skipper , and have less black.
Where is Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grassy areas. |
| Range | Southeastern US - Alabama east to North Carolina, west to Texas, south to Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. |
What does Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 eat?
The diet of the Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 includes Larvae host on Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) and other grasses..
When is Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010 active?
Southern Skipperling - Hodges#4010: seasonal activity - Year-round in FL, two broods further north..