Hoary Edge
Achalarus lyciades
http://a1410.g.akamai.net/f/1410/163.../BU0435_1m.jpg
Description 1 1/2-1 3/4" (38-44 mm). Wings triangular, outer edge of HW quite straight. Blackish-brown above with a cluster of 4 or 5 glassy, yellow-orange, squarish spots on FW disk. Beneath, FW has
dark brown toward base with yellow to tan spot band, area beyond spots toward tip is paler brown, clouded with light scales. HW below banded black and brown at base; outer half of wing heavily frosted with white, also near abdomen. HW fringes white, lightly checkered; HW fringes heavily checkered.
Similar Species Golden-banded Skipper lacks hoary edge below. Silver-spotted Skipper and Gold-spot Aguna have white on disk below, longer orange FW bands above.
Life Cycle Egg off-white. Caterpillar grass-green, has bluish back stripe and yellowish speckling. Chrysalis light brown with dark and yellowish patches.
Host plants include tick trefoil (Desmodium), wild indigo (Baptisia), bush clover (Lespedeza).
Flight 1 brood in North; May-July. Many broods in South; April-December. efend from other males or where they find mates.
Habitat Scrub oaklands, woodland edges, roads, gardens, disturbed areas, and meadows.
Range Minnesota east to New Hampshire and south to Florida and N. Texas.
Discussion The Hoary Edge is named for its frosty-white edge below. It is generally common east of the Mississippi Valley. Males select small recesses or openings in the woods, which they defend from other males or where they find mates.
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