silver-spotted skipper
(Epargyreus clarus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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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. |
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Size |
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Total Length: 1⅛″ Wingspan: 1¾″ to 2⅝″ |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Open areas and woodland borders |
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Biology |
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Season |
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One brood, mid-May to late September |
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Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Hosts |
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Black locust, honey locust, leadplant, desert false indigo, dwarf false indigo, wild licorice, and other legumes. |
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Adult Food |
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Nectar of blue, red, pink, purple, and sometimes white and cream-colored flowers, but not yellow flowers. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 7/12/2021 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) | ||
Suborder |
Glossata | ||
Infraorder |
Neolepidoptera | ||
| Parvorder | Heteroneura | ||
| No Rank | Ditrysia | ||
| No Rank | Obtectomera | ||
Superfamily |
Papilionoidea (butterflies) | ||
Family |
Hesperiidae (skippers) | ||
Subfamily |
Eudaminae | ||
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. |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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silverspotted skipper silver-spotted skipper |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this insect. |
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Margot Avey |
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Mike Poeppe |
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Alfredo Colon |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Epargyreus clarus (Silver-spotted Skipper) Allen Chartier |
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| Silver-spotted Skipper jt893x |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this insect. |
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Other Videos |
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| Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) colong7034 |
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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! |
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| Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) nectaring on New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) colong7034 |
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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 |
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| Silver-spotted Skipper Kim Smith· |
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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. |
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| The Butterfly Game - how to handle wild butterflies precarious333 |
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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: To use this video in a commercial player, advertising or in broadcasts, please email Viral Spiral: contact@viralspiralgroup.com |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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| Mike Poeppe 7/11/2021 |
Location: Houston County, MN |
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| Margot Avey 6/22/2021 |
Location:Lake Harriet Trial Gardens in Minneapolis |
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| Alfredo Colon August 2019 |
Location: Slinger, Wisconsin |
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| Margot Avey 8/20/2020 |
Location: Noerenberg Memorial Gardens - Three Rivers Park District, Crystal Bay, Lake Minnetonka MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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