Butterflies of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Common Name: Scientific Name:
Common Name begins with:
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Scientific Name begins with:
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Number of records: 249,613
Related Species in HESPERIIDAE:
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Common NameSouthern Skipperling by Paul Hart => Raven Rock State Park, 2006-08-28
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Scientific NameCopaeodes minima
Link to BAMONA species account.
MapClick on a county for list of all database records for the species in that county.
Flight Chart
Common NameSouthern Skipperling
Scientific NameCopaeodes minima
DistributionDISTRIBUTION: The southeastern half of the state, occurring over most of the Coastal Plain and in the southeastern portion of the Piedmont (where a resident in some areas but a stray in others). Absent from most of the Piedmont and all of the Mountains, and apparently much of the northwestern Coastal Plain. NC lies at the northern end of the species' range, though it strays to VA. Randolph County was added to the county list in 2020, Cabarrus County in 2021, and Orange and Forsyth counties in 2024, though the species is presumably just a migrant/stray that far to the northwest in the state (though there are breeding populations in Mecklenburg and Wake counties).
AbundanceABUNDANCE: Somewhat variable from year to year. Uncommon to locally fairly common, but easily overlooked, in the extreme southeastern Coastal Plain; uncommon north to the Sandhills, Harnett, and Craven counties; rare in the southern Piedmont and in the Coastal Plain north of Craven County. This apparent scarcity is perhaps in part due to its tiny size, making it easy to overlook; however, up to several dozen individuals can be seen in a few favored fields, including at a few spots in central Harnett County, close to the edge of the Piedmont.
FlightFLIGHT PERIOD: Apparently four broods. A very small brood in April and early May, a small brood from early June into July, and seemingly two much larger broods from early August through November, with a slight "valley" in early to mid-September. The species is clearly a "winter-stressed" one; few progeny survive the winter, and it takes several broods the following year to build back the population.
HabitatHABITAT: This species favors sunny areas of short grasses, generally less than a foot tall. Its tolerance of habitats is fairly broad, but it generally avoids the wet areas, such as marshes, that are the habitats of the Least Skipper. Habitats in NC include savannas, roadsides, open fields, weedy lawns, and openings in Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)/scrub oak scrub.
PlantsFOOD AND NECTAR PLANTS: Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon) is the main foodplant, though other grasses are certainly used. The species nectars on many species, but generally within about a foot of the ground. Most individuals at the large Raleigh colony in 2024 nectared on White Clover (Trifolium repens).
CommentsCOMMENTS: This species, as do all tiny species, keeps close to the ground. It has a relatively quick and darting flight like most other skippers, rather than the weak, bobbing flight of the slightly larger but similar Least Skipper. Its apparent absence north of the southern Piedmont counties is probably real, as NC lies at the northern edge of the range. Paul Hart recorded the species often in his yard at Raven Rock State Park in Harnett County, greatly contributing to the surprising (and misleading) number of records from the Piedmont. Recent observations by many people in Wake County and in Mecklenburg County suggest that there are likely resident populations in these areas, as well, especially considering that the Southern Lake Norman butterfly count in the latter county tallied an excellent 16 individuals on August 11, 2013 and the Raleigh count in August 2024 tallied over 50 individuals. There is some recent concern for this species, as it is most frequently found in dry to mesic grassy fields and grassy vacant lots that can be easily cleared or mowed. In addition, its habitats can quickly become overgrown by saplings if not constantly mowed or otherwise kept in a grassy condition. The situation brightened in 2021, with a gratifying 18 reports, including our second highest one-day count of 67 in Bladen County. And there were an excellent 25 state reports in 2022, including the all-time state record tally.
State Status (first) and Rank (second)none - S3S4
Federal Status (first) and Global Rank (second)none - G5
SynonymOarisma minima
Other Name
Links to other butterfly galleries: [Cook] [Lynch] [Pippen] [Pugh]
Photo Gallery for Southern Skipperling
Photo by: Scott Hartley
Comment: Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Moore Co.; 2002-Oct-10
Southern Skipperling - Click to enlarge 		Photo by: Roger Rittmaster
Comment: Moore Co.
Southern Skipperling - Click to enlarge
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Comment: Aug 11, 2013. Mecklenburg Co.
Southern Skipperling - Click to enlarge 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Comment: Aug 11, 2013. Mecklenburg Co.
Southern Skipperling - Click to enlarge
Photo by: Richard Stickney
Comment: October 7, 2012. Florence, SC
Southern Skipperling - Click to enlarge