Mariposas saltarinas
Hesperiidae (family-level entry)
Mariposa
Familia de mariposas pequeñas y de vuelo veloz cuyas larvas se alimentan casi exclusivamente de gramíneas. El pasto azul enano (little bluestem) y el pasto de interruptor (switchgrass) se encuentran entre las gramíneas nativas de estación cálida que albergan múltiples especies de mariposas saltarinas; plantar estas gramíneas es la medida más efectiva para apoyar sus poblaciones.
Plants in the catalog
Plantas hospedantes de larvas · 14
Yucca specialist host — the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center documents Yucca filamentosa as a larval host for the Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae) and Cofaqui Giant-Skipper (Megathymus cofaqui), whose larvae bore into the plant.
Warm-season-grass specialist host — the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center documents big bluestem as a larval host for the Delaware Skipper and Dusted Skipper. Planting native warm-season grasses is the single most effective way to support skipper populations.
Warm-season-grass specialist host — the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center lists blue grama as a larval host for the Garita Skipperling, Uncas Skipper, Pahaska Skipper, Green Skipper, Rhesus Skipper, and Simius Roadside-Skipper. Planting native prairie grasses is the most effective way to support these skipper populations.
Little bluestem is one of the canonical larval host grasses for multiple skipper species (Hesperiidae) across eastern and central North America. Planting native warm-season grasses is the single most effective way to support skipper populations.
Poaceae specialist — multiple skipper species use prairie dropseed as larval host.
Poaceae specialist — multiple skipper species use river oats as larval host.
Poaceae specialist — multiple skipper species use side-oats grama as a larval host (the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center documents Green Skipper, Dotted Skipper, and others).
NC State documents wild indigo duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae) — a skipper specialist on Baptisia — as a larval host on this plant. Hoary edge (Achalarus lyciades) is also a duskywing-family Lep host per NC State.
Long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) and silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) larvae feed on Phaseolus and other Fabaceae plants. In bean gardens, occasional skipper-caterpillar leaf damage is minor + part of the wedge-relevant Lep support story — don't spray.
Many skippers are grass (Poaceae) feeders whose larvae develop on grass blades, so a stand of oats can plausibly serve as larval food, though it is grown as a crop rather than maintained as host habitat.
Both the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and NC State Extension document Apios americana as a larval host for the Silver-spotted Skipper, a legume-feeding skipper whose caterpillars develop on this native vine.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center lists honey locust as a larval host, including the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), a widespread legume-feeding skipper.
Multiple grass skipper species use Sorghastrum nutans as a larval host alongside other native warm-season grasses (Andropogon, Schizachyrium). Planting Indian grass alongside little bluestem + switchgrass provides the broadest skipper-larva habitat.
Multiple skipper butterfly species use warm-season prairie grasses including switchgrass as larval food plants.
Plantas de néctar · 15
The shallow florets of open marigold heads are a nectar source visited by skippers and other small butterflies; a general nectar visit rather than a documented host relationship.
Short-tongued skippers find yarrow especially accessible because the small corolla tubes match their proboscis length.
Skippers are frequent visitors to open composite flowers like zinnias; while the species pages cite butterflies generally rather than skippers by name, skipper nectaring on zinnias is widely observed.
Skippers work the top-down blooming spike efficiently — the disc-floret architecture matches short skipper proboscises.
Short-tongued skippers reach the small corolla tubes easily, making yarrow especially accessible to them.
The shallow florets suit short-tongued skippers, which are frequent visitors to flossflower's clusters for nectar; a general nectar visit, not a host relationship.
Like other open marigold heads, the shallow florets are a nectar source visited by skippers and other small butterflies; this is a general nectar visit rather than a documented host relationship.
NC State Plant Toolbox states the flowers attract butterflies; skippers are common late-season nectar visitors to open-flowered composites, so visitation is plausible though not individually documented for this hybrid.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder lists the flowers as attractive to butterflies generally; flat-topped lantana clusters are a common nectar source for skippers, though MBG does not name this group specifically.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder records the flowers as attractive to butterflies; the dense nectar-rich heads draw skippers along with larger butterflies.
NC State Extension Plant Toolbox specifically notes that beetles, butterflies, and skippers feed off the plant.
NC State explicitly lists skippers among the visitors; the small individual florets within each domed cluster fit short skipper proboscises.
Distribución
Géneros diversos en toda América del Norte; las especies específicas dependen de la región.