Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
Description 1 3/4-2 3/8" (44-60 mm). Large; long-winged, with stubby lobe on HW. Above,
dark brown with a broad band of squarish, glassy yellow-orange spots across middle of FW, 1 smaller spot beyond FW cell, and minute dots near tip. Below, FW paler with similar spots, frosty purplish margin; HW has frosted, purplish scaling outwardly; HW disk mostly filled by large, irregular patch of silver. Fringes checkered buff.
Similar Species Golden-banded and Gold-spotted skippers both lack extensive silver patch below. Gold-spot Aguna lighter in color, orange band on FW lighter, silvery mark on HW below narrower, linear, and irregular. Hoary Edge has lighter yellow band, silver marginal frosting below, not cell patch.
Life Cycle Egg green, globular. Mature caterpillar light yellow-green with darker green lines, patches, and speckles, and rust-red head; builds shelter of leaves on host plant and forms dark brown chrysalis with darker and lighter markings in a loose cocoon among ground litter.
Host plants include wisteria (Wisteria), locusts (Gleditsia, Robinia), beggar's tick (Desmodium), beans (Phaseolus), and licorice (Glycyrrhiza).
Flight 1 brood in North; May-September. 2 broods or more in South; most of year.
Habitat Riparian forests, open woods, canyons, grassy hillsides, parks, and gardens.
Range British Columbia east to Quebec and south to Baja California, n. Mexico, and Florida.
Discussion The Silver-spotted Skipper occupies one of the most extensive ranges of any North American butterfly. It adapts readily to suburbs and parks and often puts on spectacular aerial displays. The Zestos Skipper (E. zestos) flies throughout the West Indies and southern Florida. It has large, glassy, golden spots on the fore wing above, but lacks the large glassy spot on the hind wings. Its caterpillars feed on woody legumes.
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