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Palmetto Skipper
Euphyes arpa (Boisduval & Leconte, [1837])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Head and front of thorax are bright orange. Male Upperside of forewing is reddish-yellow with black borders and a 2-part black stigma; hindwing is black. Female: Upperside is mostly black with a few reddish-yellow patches. Both sexes: Underside of hindwing is bright yellow-orange with no markings.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 1 15/16 inches (4.1 - 4.9 cm).
Life History: To await females, males perch all day in sedge marshes. Caterpillars eat palmetto fronds and live in silken tubes at the frond base. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Probably three broods from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including pickerelweed.
Habitat: Lowland palmetto scrub.
Range: Peninsular Florida, southeastern Georgia, coasts of southern Alabama and southern Mississippi.
Conservation: Populations should be conserved wherever found.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 86 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9155_0.jpg?itok=wvmqXfIj)
Observation date: Sep 18, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/dscn7329.jpg?itok=5tX0kz2y)
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 01, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palmetto_skipper_euphyes_arpa_ralph_e._simmons_08-23-2009_nassau_co._fl._berthet.jpg?itok=PpjRV-Si)
Observation date: Aug 23, 2009
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 11, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palmetto_skipper_161002_1.jpg?itok=KzeT1S7V)
Observation date: Oct 02, 2016
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 11, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/gv7a2987.jpg?itok=kIuI-S-4)
Observation date: Aug 25, 2015
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 15, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palmetto_skip_kiss_prairie_22_feb_2015.jpg?itok=sKiqcy2J)
Observation date: Feb 22, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc02024_1.jpg?itok=SSU3aknq)
Observation date: May 23, 2015
Submitted by: Pcasteel
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 31, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palmetto_skipper_2.jpg?itok=w3WFxZXa)
Observation date: Apr 04, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palmetto_skipper.jpg?itok=3DN1OLCs)
Observation date: Aug 31, 2013
Submitted by: cfhayes
Region: Liberty County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 04, 2014
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 18, 2010
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/53-Berthet.jpg?itok=lsVRJKLI)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Bill Berthet)
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/54-Berthet.jpg?itok=eSFxvWR7)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Bill Berthet)
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 29, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pierre Howard)
Region: Camden County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap (Mike Chapman)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 17, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Bill Berthet)
Verified date: Aug 07, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Bill Berthet)
Verified date: Aug 07, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jun 22, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Baker County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Berthet)
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 13, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Apr 22, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 15, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Ahearn)
Region: Taylor County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. Calhoun)
Verified date: Oct 11, 2007
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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