Meske's Skipper - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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Meske's Skippers are rapid fliers, often making an audible buzz when they pass by. They inhabit dry, open, grassy woods and pinelands, although they may travel quite some distance to find prime nectar sources. There are two broods, with the second being larger. These coincide with the beginning and end of the southern rainy season.

Like other members of their genus, Meske's females lay their eggs on or near host grasses. Caterpillars create nests within grass clumps that are low to the ground, often containing a detritus-lined tunnel that may go slightly below the ground's surface. Since this skipper's habitat is typically fire-maintained, the somewhat subterranean shelter may help with survival.

"Gulf Coast" and "Dixie" Skipper are other common names, which allude to Meske's restricted range near the Gulf and lower Atlantic coasts. This species is declining through much of its territory probably due, at least in part, to habitat loss. The subspecies historically found in the Florida Keys is now presumed extinct. Meske's Skippers have only been occasionally documented in Alabama. Whether they are actually rare or only rarely encountered and correctly identified is not known.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Cleburne, Escambia