Common Least Skipper vs Pale Clouded Yellow

Ancyloxypha numitor compared with Colias hyale

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Least Skipper	Pale Clouded Yellow
Kingdom same	Animalia (hayvan)	Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Eklem bacaklılar)	Arthropoda (Eklem bacaklılar)
Class same	Insecta (böcek)	Insecta (böcek)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Pul kanatlılar)	Lepidoptera (Pul kanatlılar)
Family	Hesperiidae	Pieridae
Genus	Ancyloxypha	Colias
Species	Ancyloxypha numitor	Colias hyale

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Least Skipper and Pale Clouded Yellow share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Pul kanatlılar)

Conservation Status

Common Least Skipper

LC — Least Concern

Pale Clouded Yellow

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Least Skipper	Pale Clouded Yellow
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.

Pale Clouded Yellow

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (35 countries).

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.

Pale Clouded Yellow

Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.