
	Description
	The pattern of pale spots on the upperside of the forewing is unique. There is a large silver spot in the middle of the hindwing underside that is noticeable in flight.

	Size
	Total length: 1⅛″ Wingspan: 1¾″ to 2⅝″

	Similar Species



	Habitat
	Open areas and woodland borders


	Biology
	Season
	One brood, mid-May to late September

	Behavior


	Life Cycle


	Larva Hosts
	Black locust, honey locust, leadplant, desert false indigo, dwarf false indigo, wild licorice, and other legumes.

	Adult Food
	Nectar of blue, red, pink, purple, and sometimes white and cream-colored flowers, but not yellow flowers.


	Distribution
			Sources 7, 4, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 75, 82.
	2/8/2023

	Occurrence


	Taxonomy
	Order	Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
	Superfamily	Papilionoidea (butterflies)
	Family	Hesperiidae (skippers)
	Subfamily	Eudaminae (dicot skippers)
	Genus	Epargyreus

	Skippers have traditionally been placed in their own superfamily Hesperioidea because of their morphological similarity. Recent phylogenetic analysis (Kawahara and Breinholt [2014]) suggests that they share the same common ancestor as other butterfly families, and thus belong in the superfamily, Papilionoidea.

	Subordinate Taxa
	Arizona silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus huachuca) Eastern silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus clarus) Nevada silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus profugus) Pacific silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus californicus)

	Synonyms


	Common Names
	silverspotted skipper silver-spotted skipper


	Visitor Photos

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	Alfredo Colon




	Margot Avey






	Mike Poeppe





	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

Camera


	Slideshows


	Epargyreus clarus (Silver-spotted Skipper) Allen Chartier




	Silver-spotted Skipper jt893x

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) colong7034

	About Published on Aug 25, 2013 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), Transylvania County, NC. Shot 8/23/13 Music: "Flutter by Butterfly" by Josh Woodward (http://www.joshwoodward.com/). Seemed appropriate!



	Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) colong7034

	About Published on Aug 25, 2013 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis). Transylvania County, NC. Shot 8/23/13. Music: Flutter by butterfly" @ Joshwoodward.com



	Silver-spotted Skipper Kim Smith·

	About Published on Jul 23, 2013 Although there appear to be far fewer Lepidoptera on the wing this year, as compared to last year's extraordinary numbers, one frequent garden visitor to gardens this summer is the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus). Like butterflies and moths, skippers are members of the Order Lepidoptera and, like all Lepidoptera, they are distinguished from other insects by their scaled wings. Skippers are characterized by, and named by, a darting (skipping) flight pattern. Skippers are also easy to identify from butterflies and moths by their antennae clubs that are hooked backward, like to a crochet hook. The Silver-spotted Skipper caterpillars feed on members of the legume family, including Black Locust, Honey Locust, Hog Peanut, ticktrefoils (Desmodium) and False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa). Notice the white sploges on the skipper's under wing. The sploges resemble bird poop and are thought to be an evolutionary defense against predatory birds.



	The Butterfly Game - how to handle wild butterflies precarious333

	About Uploaded on Oct 18, 2010 Handling wild Silver-Spotted Skippers (Epargyreus clarus). Footage of technique and them playing games, landing on my head, etc. How to handle bumble bees: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GmlT6OIJAU To use this video in a commercial player, advertising or in broadcasts, please email Viral Spiral: contact@viralspiralgroup.com

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

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Terry O'Brien 6/26/2023	Location: Suomi, Itasca County



Alfredo Colon 8/19/2022	Location: Albany, NY



Mike Poeppe 7/11/2021	Location: Houston County, MN



Margot Avey 6/22/2021	Location:Lake Harriet Trial Gardens in Minneapolis



Alfredo Colon August 2019	Location: Slinger, Wisconsin



Margot Avey 8/20/2020	Location: Noerenberg Memorial Gardens - Three Rivers Park District, Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka MN



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