Fiery Skipper vs Maldives Coconut Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fiery Skipper Maldives Coconut Moth
Scientific Name Hylephila phyleus Opisina arenosella
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Hesperiidae Oecophoridae
Size 25-34 mm wingspan 20-25 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Southern United States, migrating northward in summer Maldives, Indian Ocean, South Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Fiery Skipper

A small bright orange skipper with short antennae and a fast darting flight. Males have a prominent black stigma on the forewing.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most common skippers found in American suburban lawns and is a minor turf grass pest.

Maldives Coconut Moth

A small moth whose larvae feed on coconut palm leaves across the Indian Ocean. It is a significant pest in the Maldives and South Asia.

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Did You Know?

A single heavily infested coconut palm can harbor thousands of larvae under silk galleries.