Byssus Skipper
Problema byssus (Edwards, 1880) P-no. 77a0186, fam. Hesperiidae
Host plant(s): Found on eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
Date(s) found: 18 July, 2026
Locations found: Powder Valley Conservation Area, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: My first grass skipper cat! Byssus skipper caterpillars spend their time in cylindrical shelters typically made from one grass stem. Look for these in higher quality prairie habitats where their host plants are abundant. Due to loss and degradation of grassland habitat, the byssus skipper and most of the grass skippers are at risk. Although the byssus skipper has a wide range, it is not considered common in any state.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 