Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 100,566 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Fiery Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Fiery Skipper
The fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae and is approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The males are orange or yellow with black spots while the females are dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The caterpillars are greenish pink with a black head. The caterpillars are often considered pests and can feed on Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass, and St. Augustine grass.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Fiery Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 26,311 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Texas | 25,775 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Florida | 7,250 | September | Feb–Nov |
| North Carolina | 5,473 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 5,222 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Illinois | 3,430 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Virginia | 2,369 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Alabama | 2,321 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Arizona | 2,009 | September | Jun–Nov |
| Arkansas | 1,855 | August | Jun–Oct |
| South Carolina | 1,750 | July | Jun–Nov |
| Ohio | 1,672 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Missouri | 1,632 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,631 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 1,524 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Louisiana | 1,469 | October | May–Oct |
| Tennessee | 1,409 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 1,117 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Indiana | 668 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New Mexico | 608 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Mississippi | 544 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 476 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Kansas | 459 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Hawaii | 443 | January | Jan–Jun |
| New York | 413 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New Jersey | 398 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Kentucky | 361 | September | Aug–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 295 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Minnesota | 291 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Iowa | 274 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Nebraska | 238 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Michigan | 208 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Delaware | 143 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Nevada | 140 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 91 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Connecticut | 71 | September | Aug–Oct |
| West Virginia | 62 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Utah | 50 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 44 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Colorado | 25 | September | Aug–Oct |
| South Dakota | 20 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Maine | 11 | October | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 5 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 5 | September | Aug–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Common Checkered-Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fiery Skipper?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Fiery Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.