Common Least Skipper vs Stinking iris

Ancyloxypha numitor compared with Iris foetidissima

Key Differences

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

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Least Skipper	Stinking iris
Kingdom same	Animalia (동물)	Animalia (동물)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (절지동물)	Arthropoda (절지동물)
Class same	Insecta (곤충)	Insecta (곤충)
Order	Lepidoptera (나비목)	Mantodea (사마귀목)
Family	Hesperiidae	Eremiaphilidae
Genus	Ancyloxypha	Iris
Species	Ancyloxypha numitor	Iris foetidissima

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Least Skipper and Stinking iris share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (곤충)

Conservation Status

Common Least Skipper

LC — Least Concern

Stinking iris

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Least Skipper	Stinking iris
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.

Stinking iris

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand).

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇸 United States