All skippers have moth-like bodies that are thick and furry. Their wings are triangular and their antennae end in knobs with tiny hooks. Their name comes from the description of their flight pattern of darting from one place to another. Their caterpillars have smooth skins and large heads.

The Monk Skipper has a broad body, pointed wings, and a brown color. The male is brownish-black above with orange-edged silver patches of sex scales on the wings. These specialized scales produce scent hormones. The female is golden brown with light patches on the forewings. The fringes of the wings are buff colored.

These skippers are found in South Florida and in Cuba. The host plants for the caterpillars are several species of palms.

The photograph above is of a female and it was taken in Conservancy Garden #1. This skipper was sunning itself on a thatch palm leaf. To date, no eggs or caterpillars of the Monk Skippers have been found in the Conservancy garden.

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Links:

Index to Butterfly and Moth Visitors to Gardens

Index To Photographs of Plants in the Gardens

Plant Lists by Garden

Conservancy of SW Florida Butterfly Garden Home Page

Conservancy of SW Florida Home Page.

Please report errors to Susan Snyder at ssnyder2@columbus.rr.com