Fiery Skipper vs African Acacia Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fiery Skipper | African Acacia Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylephila phyleus | Pseudomyrmex sp. (African mimic: Tetraponera penzigi) |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 25-34 mm wingspan | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Southern United States, migrating northward in summer | East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Fiery Skipper
A small bright orange skipper with short antennae and a fast darting flight. Males have a prominent black stigma on the forewing.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most common skippers found in American suburban lawns and is a minor turf grass pest.
African Acacia Ant
A slender ant inhabiting the swollen galls of whistling thorn acacias in East Africa. Multiple ant species compete for occupation of these trees in a well-studied ecological system.
Did You Know?
Four different ant species compete for whistling thorn acacias, with each species altering tree growth in different ways.