Whirlabout - Hodges#4045
Polites vibex
This record describes Polites vibex (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: dorsal - male bright yellowish-orange on both wings; forewing with large black stigma and dark patch near tip. Female dark brown with unmarked hindwing and several pale orange or yellow spots on forewing. Adult: ventral - male orangish-yellow with dark apical patch on forewing, and usually three or four large blackish smudges on hindwing. Female variably drab color with light color bands.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Polites
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Sunny scrubby or open areas, including dunes, fields, pinewoods, roadsides, forest openings, yards, and parks.
Geographic Range
coastal se US plains (TX-FL-NC) / Mex / W. Indies - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly all year in Florida and southern Texas; April to September farther north
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on grasses, including Bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ), St. Augustine Grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum ), and Thin Paspalum ( Paspalum setaceum )
Life History
Two generations per year in northern part of range; more than two in the far south.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: vibex (L). 'a whip mark' Whirlabouts named for their fast circular flight pattern.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polites vibex. 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 Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Alan Chin Lee; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , tom murray , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson , Abigail Parker
Frequently Asked Questions About Whirlabout - Hodges#4045
What is Whirlabout - Hodges#4045?
Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 (Polites vibex) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Whirlabout - Hodges#4045?
25-29 mm wingspan
How do you identify Whirlabout - Hodges#4045?
Adult: dorsal - male bright yellowish-orange on both wings; forewing with large black stigma and dark patch near tip. Female dark brown with unmarked hindwing and several pale orange or yellow spots on forewing. Adult: ventral - male orangish-yellow with dark apical patch on forewing, and usually three or four large blackish smudges on hindwing. Female variably drab color with light color bands.
Where is Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sunny scrubby or open areas, including dunes, fields, pinewoods, roadsides, forest openings, yards, and parks. |
| Range | coastal se US plains (TX-FL-NC) / Mex / W. Indies - Map (MPG) |
What does Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 eat?
The diet of the Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 includes larvae feed on grasses, including Bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ), St. Augustine Grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum ), and Thin Paspalum ( Paspalum setaceum ).
When is Whirlabout - Hodges#4045 active?
Whirlabout - Hodges#4045: seasonal activity - Adults fly all year in Florida and southern Texas; April to September farther north.
What is the life cycle of a Whirlabout - Hodges#4045?
Two generations per year in northern part of range; more than two in the far south.