A common landscape plant in the southern United States. They are easy to grow and produce showy flowers.

Leaves are a good food source for some insects and insect feeding can make the plants unattractive.

A typical skipper larva having the constricted "neck" behind the head.

Mature larvae are nearly two inches long. Note the network of tracheae that originate from the spiracles and the characteristic dark triangle on the frontal region of the head capsule.

When a larva is not feeding, it will fold a canna leaf over itself. The folded leaf is secured with silk threads.

After about 10-14 days of feeding, the larva pupates. Notice the silk thread that secures the pupa on a pad of silk inside a folded canna leaf. Also note the characteristic anterior spine (right) and the enclosed proboscis extending beyond the cremaster (left).

After the adult emerges, the empty pupal skin is left behind.

A typical skipper and not particularly showy