This dainty little yellow skipper butterfly has one of the neatest names I’ve seen — the whirlabout. Its Latin name is Polites vibex. They live in the southeastern US coastal plains (think Texas – Florida – North Carolina), mostly in sunny, open areas. The caterpillars eat grasses, especially Bermudagrass and St. Augustine grass.

“Skipper” butterflies have low, erratic flight patterns, and are generally hell to catch with a macro photography setup. This one was patiently waiting for some rain to pass, and allowed me to snap a couple of photos before fluttering off.