The Skipper Wasn't Skipping

Sep 14, 2011

The skipper wasn't skipping.

In fact, it wasn't doing much of anything.

The fiery skipper butterfly (Hylephila phyleus), tangled in a spider web, struggled furiously to free itself.

Not going to happen. The sticky substance stuck to her like super glue.

It's a scene you don't often see. This time, however, before the resident spider on the catmint could grab its prey, I released the skipper.

Sorry, spider. Gotta protect the pollinators.


By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Author - Communications specialist

Attached Images:

Fiery skipper struggles to free itself in a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fiery skipper struggles to free itself in a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head of fiery skipper shows the tangled sticky strands of a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Head of fiery skipper shows the tangled sticky strands of a spider web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Released fiery skipper ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Released fiery skipper ready to flutter away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)