Common Least Skipper vs

Ancyloxypha numitor compared with Phormidium versicolor

Key Differences

• Common Least Skipper is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Least Skipper
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Bacteria (Bacteria)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Cyanobacteria (Cyanobacteria)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Cyanobacteriia
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Cyanobacteriales
Family	Hesperiidae	Oscillatoriaceae
Genus	Ancyloxypha	Phormidium
Species	Ancyloxypha numitor	Phormidium versicolor

Conservation Status

Common Least Skipper

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Least Skipper
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Least Skipper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Canada and United States.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Sweden.

Common Least Skipper

The Common Least Skipper (<em>Ancyloxypha numitor</em>) is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is native to Canada and the United States, where it typically inhabits virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range, showing a particular affinity for moist, grassy areas near water. The species is among the smallest skippers in North America, characterized by orange and brown wing coloration and a rapid, low-flying flight pattern close to vegetation. Adults typically nectar on small flowers while larvae feed on grasses, particularly those in wet meadows, marshes, stream margins, and disturbed grassy areas. The Common Least Skipper is frequently observed in wetland margins, wet prairies, and roadsides with rank grass growth. Its wide distribution across North America and habitat generalism across moist grassland and wetland types support its stable population and Least Concern conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Phormidium versicolor is a filamentous cyanobacterium in the family Phormidiaceae known for variable pigmentation, as implied by its species name. It forms mats and biofilms on moist soil, rocks, and freshwater substrates across a wide range of habitats. Its conservation status is not evaluated.