Skipper Butterfly vs Thistledown Velvet Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Skipper Butterfly | Thistledown Velvet Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epargyreus clarus | Dasymutilla gloriosa |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Mutillidae |
| Size | 44-67 mm wingspan | 12-20 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Southwestern United States from California to Texas |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Skipper Butterfly
A stout-bodied butterfly with hooked antennae, brown wings with golden spots on the forewing, and a distinctive silver patch on the hindwing underside. It has a rapid, darting flight.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar builds a silk-lined leaf shelter and can eject its droppings up to 150 centimeters away to avoid attracting parasitic wasps.
Thistledown Velvet Ant
A strikingly beautiful velvet ant covered in long white hair that resembles a piece of thistledown blowing across desert sand. The wingless females are a remarkable mimic of windblown plant material.
Did You Know?
Its white fluffy appearance camouflages it among the creosote seed pods and dried plant debris of its desert habitat.