Polites vibex

Whirlabout
Male P. v. praeceps, Tobago
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Tribe: Hesperiini
Genus: Polites
Species: P. vibex
Binomial name
Polites vibex
(Geyer, [1832])
Subspecies
  • P. s. vibex
  • P. v. praeceps (Scudder, 1872)
  • P. v. brettoides (Edwards, 1883)
  • P. v. catilina (Plötz, 1886)
  • P. v. dictynna (Godman & Salvin, 1896)
  • P. v. calla Evans, 1955
     Year round     Migration
Synonyms
  • Thymelicus vibex Geyer, [1832]

Polites vibex, or the whirlabout,[1] is a grass skipper in the Hesperiidae family. The whirlabout gets its name from the landing and take off flight patterns of the adult – a circular or vortex or whirling motion.[2] It is resident from the southeastern U.S. and West Indies to eastern Mexico through the tropics down to Argentina.[3] During the summer it can sometimes be found as far north as Ohio, Connecticut, and northeast Iowa.[3] The wingspan is 25–38 mm (0.98–1.50 in).[4] It flies all year in the extreme south and migrates north in late summer and fall.[4]

The larvae feed on grasses mainly at night.[1][4][5] Eggs are white and laid one at a time on the host plants.[6]

Description

The whirlabout exhibits sexual dimorphism.[5] Although the two sexes are about the same size with a wingspan of 25–38 mm (0.98–1.50 in), they vary greatly in coloring and pattern. Both have elongated wings but male is orange and yellow and the female is dark brown.[6]

Male

From above, the forewing is orange with a black stigma and nearby scales that form a dark, four-sided patch. The forewing also has a jagged black border. The hindwing has a black margin that is smooth inwardly.[3]

From below, the hindwing is golden orange with large, dark, smudged spots.[5]

Female

From above, the forewing is dark brown with light colored spots.[6] From below, the hindwing is a greyish yellow-brown with a couple of bands of large brown spots and light central patch with dark scales at edges.[3]

Geographic Range

The whirlabout butterfly is resident from the southeastern U.S. and West Indies to eastern Mexico through the tropics down to Argentina.[3] During the summer it can sometimes be found as far north as Ohio, Connecticut, and northeast Iowa.[3]

Habitat

Coastal plain grassy areas,[5] fields, dunes, pinewoods, roadsides,[3] disturbed areas, vacant lots, open woodlots, forest edges, parks, lawns, and gardens.[6]

Food resources

Caterpillars

Grasses.[5]

Adults

Nectar of flowers.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Polites, funet.fi
  2. ↑ Brock, Jim P.; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Kaufman Focus Guides Butterflies of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 302. ISBN 0618254005.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Opler, Paul A.; Vichai Malikul (1998). A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides). Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-395-90453-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Whirlabout, Butterflies of Canada
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Scott, James A. (1986). The Butterflies of North America A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford University Press. p. 446. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Daniels, Jaret C. (2003). Butterflies of Florida Field Guide. Adventure Publications, Inc. pp. 178–179. ISBN 978-1-59193-005-1.
  • Whirlabout, Butterflies and Moths of North America
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