Posts Tagged: Hylephila phyleus

The Spider and the Skipper

This is a a story about a spider and a skipper. Technically, a banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) and a fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila...

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)--as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro--waits for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)--as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro--waits for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps its meal, a male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps its meal, a male fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

While the garden spider wraps its prey, two fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus) prepare to mate on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

While the garden spider wraps its prey, two fiery skippers (Hylephila phyleus) prepare to mate on a Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the Lantana

The purple trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) is a butterfly magnet.  In our yard, it draws gulf fritillaries, Western tiger...

Courtship in the lantana: the female is on the left, and the male on the right. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: the female is on the left, and the male on the right. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: second photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: second photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: third photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: third photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: fourth photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Courtship in the lantana: fourth photo in a series of four. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tongue in Cheek

Have you ever looked closely at a fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) and seen its proboscis, aka tongue or feeding tube?If you stay still and don't...

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Skipping Along

In the big, beautiful butterfly world, the Fiery Skipper stands out as the most common urban butterfly in California.It may not be as showy as the...

Close-up of Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) often head-butts the female's genitalia during courtship, says noted butterfly expert Art Shapiro of UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) often head-butts the female's genitalia during courtship, says noted butterfly expert Art Shapiro of UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Skipper Wasn't Skipping

The skipper wasn't skipping.In fact, it wasn't doing much of anything. The fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila phyleus), tangled in a spider web,...

Fiery skipper struggles to free itself in a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fiery skipper struggles to free itself in a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head of fiery skipper shows the tangled sticky strands of a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head of fiery skipper shows the tangled sticky strands of a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Released fiery skipper ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Released fiery skipper ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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