Whirlabout | |
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Male P. v. praeceps, Tobago | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Hesperiidae |
Genus: | Polites |
Species: | P. vibex |
Binomial name | |
Polites vibex (Geyer, [1832]) | |
Subspecies | |
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Year round Migration | |
Synonyms | |
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Polites vibex, or the whirlabout, [2] is a grass skipper in the family Hesperiidae. The whirlabout gets its name from the landing and take off flight patterns of the adult – a circular or vortex or whirling motion. [3] It is resident from the southeastern U.S. and West Indies to eastern Mexico through the tropics down to Argentina. During the warmer North American months, it can sometimes be found as far north as Ohio, Connecticut, and northeast Iowa.
The wingspan is 25–38 mm (0.98–1.50 in). [4] North of the equator, it flies all year and migrates north in late summer and fall. [4]
The larvae feed on grasses mainly at night. [2] [4] [5] Eggs are white and laid one at a time on the host plants. [6]
The whirlabout exhibits sexual dimorphism. [5] Although the two sexes are about the same size with a wingspan of 25–38 mm (0.98–1.50 in), they vary greatly in coloring and pattern. Both have elongated wings but the male is orange and yellow and the female is dark brown. [6]
From above, the forewing is orange with a black stigma and nearby scales that form a dark, four-sided patch. The forewing also has a jagged black border. The hindwing has a black margin that is smooth inwardly. [7]
From below, the hindwing is golden orange with large, dark, smudged spots. [5]
From above, the forewing is dark brown with light colored spots. [6] From below, the hindwing is a greyish yellow-brown with a couple of bands of large brown spots and light central patch with dark scales at edges. [7]
The whirlabout butterfly is resident from the southeastern U.S. and West Indies to eastern Mexico through the tropics down to Argentina. [7] During the warmer months it can sometimes be found as far north as Ohio, Connecticut, and northeast Iowa. [7]
Coastal plain grassy areas, [5] fields, dunes, pinewoods, roadsides, [7] disturbed areas, vacant lots, open woodlots, forest edges, parks, lawns, and gardens. [6]
Caterpillars eat various grasses. [5] Adults eat the nectar of flowers. [6]
Grass skippers or banded skippers are butterflies of the subfamily Hesperiinae, part of the skipper family, Hesperiidae. The subfamily was established by Pierre André Latreille in 1809.
The Zabulon skipper is a North American butterfly first described by the French naturalists Jean Baptiste Boisduval and John Eatton Le Conte from the state of Georgia, United States.
Atalopedes campestris is a small grass skipper butterfly. It has a wingspan of 35–41 mm. Male is orange, edged with brown, and has a large brown-black stigma. Female is darker with lighter markings in the center of the wing.
Nymphalis vaualbum or N. l-album, the Compton tortoiseshell, or false comma, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Boloria bellona, the meadow fritillary, is a North American butterfly in the brushfoot family, Nymphalidae. The common name, meadow fritillary, is also used for a European butterfly species, Melitaea parthenoides.
Nathalis iole, the dainty sulphur or dwarf yellow, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.
Megisto cymela, the little wood satyr, is a butterfly species of the Satyrinae family that occurs in North America.
Ancyloxypha numitor, the least skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. They have a weak, Satyrinae-like flight.
Polites themistocles, the tawny-edged skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.
Danaus eresimus, the soldier or tropical queen, is a North American, Caribbean, and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Eurema proterpia, the tailed orange, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.
Chlosyne lacinia, the bordered patch or sunflower patch, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Callophrys henrici, the Henry's elfin or woodland elfin, is a North American butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. In Canada it is found from southern Manitoba to southern Nova Scotia. It has two main groups of populations in the United States; the first is found along the Atlantic Coast and uses various hollies (Ilex) as host plants; and the second is found mainly in the north and the Appalachians where they use redbud as a host plant. Henry's elfin is increasing in New England because of an introduced buckthorn it now uses as a host plant. It is listed as a species of special concern in the US state of Connecticut.
Gesta juvenalis, commonly known as Juvenal's duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.
Papilio palamedes, the Palamedes swallowtail or laurel swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae.
Limochores mystic, the long dash or long dash skipper, is a species of butterfly. The species is commonly found in north of North America and in mountains in the south of North America, in grassy habitats. The grassy areas include meadows, marshes, streamsides, wood edges, and prairie swales. On the top, the species has dark brown reddish to yellowish-orange markings. The forewing of the female has a broad black patch at the base. The forewing of the male has a long, slightly curved stigma which may be connected to the dash near the apex. Underneath the hindwing, the species is orange brown with a curved band of equal-sized yellow spots.
Chlorostrymon simaethis, the silver-banded hairstreak, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is also known as St. Christopher's hairstreak and the Key lime hairstreak.
Dispar compacta, commonly known as the dispar skipper, barred skipper, or barred grass-skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1882 as Telesto compacta and is endemic to eastern Australia.
Lycaena hyllus, the bronze copper, is a butterfly of the lycaenids family found in North America.
Oeneis nevadensis is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is commonly known as the great Arctic, Nevada Arctic, great grayling, Felder's Arctic, or Pacific Arctic. It is native to northwestern North America.