The Dion Skipper is a relatively large skipper that favors wetland habitats. Its most distinctive field marks are found on the underside of the hindwing, which is bright orange to reddish orange with two pale rays extending lengthwise down the wing. The upper ray stops short of the wing’s edge, making it a useful identification feature.

The upperside of the wings is dark brown along the edges, with pale orange markings in the central area of the wing.

 

“Dion Skipper” by Roy Cohutta, licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

Dion Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 7/16 – 1 3/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Swamps, open marshes, and bogs

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the native plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Hairy Sedge (Carex lacustris)

• Shoreline Sedge (Carex hyalinolepis)

• Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Dion Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

• Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)