Epargyreus clarus
| Silver-spotted Skipper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Tribe: | Eudamini |
| Genus: | Epargyreus |
| Species: | E. clarus |
| Binomial name | |
| Epargyreus clarus (Cramer, 1775) | |
 | |
The Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is claimed to be the most recognized skipper in North America.[1]
Description
The wingspan of an adult is 43–67 mm. The adult has translucent gold spots on the forewings and silvery bands on the hindwings.[2]
The caterpillar's head is large and brown with two orange dots mimicking eyes. It has a long, narrow, green body.
Life cycle
The adult Silver-spotted skipper occurs in fields, gardens and at forest edges. It ranges from southern Canada throughout most of the United States to northern Mexico; it is absent in the Great Basin and western Texas.[2]
Adults fly throughout the warm part of the year. They have one brood per year in the North and West, two in the East, and three or four in the Deep South.[2]
Females lay single eggs on the caterpillars' host plants.Young caterpillars fold leaves to make shelters, and older ones stick leaves together with silk.[2] They overwinter as chrysalids.
Larval foods
The larvae feed on legumes, many trees and shrubs but also some herbaceous plants. Their hosts include:
Nectar flowers
Adults almost never feed on yellow flowers.[2] Among their favorites are:
- Lathyrus latifolius
- Asclepias syriaca
- Trifolium pratense
- Cephalanthus
- Liatris
- Thistle
References
- ↑ Kaufman, Kenn; Eaton, Eric R. (2007). Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Houghton Mifflin Books. pp. 236–237. ISBN 978-0-618-15310-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Silver-spotted skipper". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
- Darby, Gene (1958). What is a Butterfly. Chicago: Benefic Press. p. 27.
- Evans, Arthur V. (2007). "Butterflies and Moths:Order Lepidoptera". Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing. p. 304. ISBN 978-1-4027-4153-1.
- Kaufman, Kenn; Brock, Jim P. (2003). Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin Books. pp. 256–257. ISBN 978-0-618-76826-4.
External links
| External identifiers for Epargyreus clarus | |
|---|---|
| Encyclopedia of Life | 184797 |
| Also found in: Wikispecies | |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epargyreus clarus. |
- Epargyreus clarus, Silver-spotted Skipper on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site