Bay Skipper (Euphyes bayensis Shuey)
Wing span: 1 1/2 -1 3/4 inches (3.7 - 4.4 cm).
Identification: Very similar to Dion Skipper but males have more extensive orange and narrower black borders to wings above.
Life history: Not reported but probably similar to that of Dion Skipper.
Flight: Two flights in May and September.
Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Brackish sawgrass marshes along coast.
Range: Coastal Mississippi.
Conservation: Monitor populations and preserve habitats.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G1G3- Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences), or very few remaining individuals to Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range
Management needs: No specific needs reported.
References:
Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.
Author: Paul A. Opler
State and Regional References:
Neck, R.W. 1996. A Field Guide to Butterflies of Texas. Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Texas. Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. Privately published, Denver, Colo. Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Tveten, J. and Tveten, G. 1996. Butterflies of Houston & Southeast Texas. Univ. of Texas Press, Austin, TX. 292 pp.