The Dun Skipper is a widespread species found across southern Canada east of the Rockies, and south through the Gulf Coast and eastern Texas.

The upperside of the male’s forewing is brownish black with a distinct black stigma. In females, the same wing is also brownish black but marked with three or four small translucent spots. The underside of the male forewing is unmarked, brownish black, while the female’s is brown with a band of three or four square, whitish spots in the upper portion of the post-medial area.

The upperside of the head and thorax often shows a subtle yellowish-orange to yellowish-green sheen.

 

Licensed under (CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication)

 

Dun Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/8 – 1 3/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Wet areas near deciduous woods such as meadows, seeps, swamp edges, and streams

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Cherokee Sedge (Carex cherokeensis)

• Graceful Sedge (Carex gracillima)

• Hairy Sedge (Carex hirta)

• Hop Sedge (Carex lupulina)

• Shortbeak Sedge (Carex brevior)

• Slough Sedge (Carex obnupta)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Dun 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)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

• Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

• Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)