BUTTERPLIES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 217 



Genus ANCYLOXYPHA Felder 



ANCYLOXYPHA NUMITOR (Fabricius) 



Least Skipper 

 Plate 3, Figure 9 



Occurrence. — Abundant. In spring and early in summer the least 

 skipper is rather local and is found only in wet, grassy areas, espe- 

 cially along the marsh}', grassy banks of small brooks flowing- 

 through meadows or through woodland glades. In midsummer it is 

 much more widely distributed, and late in summer it is to be seen in 

 greater or lesser numbers in almost all grassy regions. 



In midsummer and late in summer it is occasionally to be observed 

 in the Smithsonian Institution and Department of Agriculture 

 grounds and in Potomac Park. 



The National Museum contains a specimen taken by I. J. Condit 

 on August 6, 1906, one caught by Dr. Harrison G. Dyar in Septem- 

 ber, a very large female with the fore wing 14 mm. long taken in July, 

 1919, and another without date, all from Washington, and a pupa 

 taken by Dr. H. G. Dyar also in Washington in September. 



Habits. — ^Wherever it occurs the least skipper is abundant, though 

 on account of its small size and retiring habits it is likely to be 

 overlooked. 



Mr. Scudder wrote that this butterfly has a feeble flight, never 

 darting about from one spot to another like other skippers, but mov- 

 ing in a leisurely languid manner, skipping over the grass tops of a 

 lane or among the reeds of a marshy rill in the most dainty manner 

 possible. He noted that it does not turn much to one side or the 

 other, but flies with a short slight vertical movement, apparently 

 giving but a single beat of its wings to each little skip, and fre- 

 quently stopping to alight. It seldom rises above the grass tops, and 

 when alarmed, as noted by Maynard, often drops into the grass and 

 there conceals itself. 



It is very fond of flowers, feeding especially on those of small low- 

 growing plants which do not rise above the grass tops. 



Mr. Scudder has remarked that when at rest this butterfly has the 

 curious habit of moving its antennae in a small circle, the motion of 

 the two alternating, that is, when one is moving in a forward curve 

 the other is passing in a reverse direction. But this habit is not 

 peculiar to this skipper. I have noticed that Atrytone log an when 

 held in the fingers will do the same thing. 



Broods. — The least skipper is three brooded. It appears just before 

 the middle of May and becomes abundant toward the end of May 



