It has been quite some time since I have spotted the itty bitty tropical checkered skipper in the yard. Good thing a gulf fritillary butterfly caught me eye close to this little beauty.

This butterfly’s wingspan is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. The male and female differ in that the male has bluish-white hair on the body and wing.

After doing some research it appears that what it is sipping from is called a common wireweed. Apparently this is a Florida native and is considered a lawn weed. That is where the skippers are found, amongst the grass. It is mowed over all the time, but apparently if left untouched it will grow into a three to four foot tall shrub. Hmmm, maybe an experiment, pulling this tough weed out of the ground and putting into a pot to see if more skippers will come?

The flower it produces is also named fanpetals, do to the five petals.