Whirling-flight
Guides
Polites vibex
whirlabout
Polites vibex, commonly known as the whirlabout, is a grass skipper in the family Hesperiidae. The common name derives from the adult's distinctive flight pattern—a circular, vortex-like motion during landing and takeoff. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in coloration, with males being orange and yellow while females are dark brown. It is resident throughout the southeastern United States, West Indies, Mexico, and tropical regions of Central and South America to Argentina, with seasonal northward migrations during warmer months.