Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027
Hesperia metea
This record describes Hesperia metea (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Ventral HW and FW are variably marked with white veins and a white V shaped chevron, forming a cobweb appearance. Dorsal male mostly brown with a wrist bracelet and 2 spots near the outer FW margin. Female FW with a series of jagged FW spots.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Hesperia (Branded Skippers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry habitats with beardgrass.
Geographic Range
Maine to n.Georgia, and accross to Oklamona and Texas - [url=https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=4027Map[/url] (MPG), abscent along Gulf plains
Seasonal Activity
Southern populations March/April, northern populations May/June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Host genera: Andropogon , little bluestem Schizachyrium (MPG)
Life History
Overwinters as a pupa.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hesperia metea Scudder, 1863
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hesperia metea. 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 Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027
What is Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027?
Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 (Hesperia metea) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027?
average wingspan 30mm
How do you identify Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027?
Ventral HW and FW are variably marked with white veins and a white V shaped chevron, forming a cobweb appearance. Dorsal male mostly brown with a wrist bracelet and 2 spots near the outer FW margin. Female FW with a series of jagged FW spots.
Where is Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry habitats with beardgrass. |
| Range | Maine to n.Georgia, and accross to Oklamona and Texas - [url=https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=4027Map[/url] (MPG), abscent along Gulf plains |
What does Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 eat?
The diet of the Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 includes Host genera: Andropogon , little bluestem Schizachyrium (MPG).
When is Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027 active?
Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027: seasonal activity - Southern populations March/April, northern populations May/June..
What is the life cycle of a Cobweb Skipper - Hodges#4027?
Overwinters as a pupa.