Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
The caterpillars live in protective shelters they construct by silking leaves together, emerging only at night or during overcast weather to feed.
- Scientific name
- Epargyreus clarus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Hesperiidae › Epargyreus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open fields, meadows, gardens, and forest edges where host legumes are present.
- Diet
- Adults drink nectar from flowers like clover, thistle, and zinnia; larvae eat leaves of legumes such as Black Locust and Wisteria.
- Range
- North America, Southern Canada, United States, Northern Mexico
- Size
- Wingspan of 4.5 to 6.7 cm (1.75 to 2.6 inches).
- Lifespan
- Approximately 1 year including metamorphosis; adults typically live 2-3 weeks.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation and widespread pesticide use in suburban and agricultural areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These butterflies are fast flyers but may land on humans to drink minerals from sweat. No precautions needed; simply observe and enjoy their presence. If they land on you, remain still to avoid startling them.
Epargyreus clarus , the silver-spotted skipper , is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is claimed to be the most recognized skipper in North America. E. clarus occurs in fields, gardens, and at forest edges and ranges from southern Canada throughout most of the United States to northern Mexico, but is absent in the Great Basin and western Texas.
Photo: Elin Pierce, CC0, via iNaturalist
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