The Dusted Skipper is a dark butterfly with blackish brown wings. The underside of the hindwing is “dusted” with tiny white specks, giving the species its name. A small white dot is located near the base of the hindwing, and three white dots appear near the tip of the forewing on the underside.

A distinct white line above the eye helps distinguish the Dusted Skipper from the similarly looking Clouded Skipper.

 

“Dusted Skipper” by Troy Shively, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Dusted Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 11/16 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, barrens, and old fields

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

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

• Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.)

• Goat’s Beard (Tragopogon spp.)

• Horsemint (Monarda punctata)

• Lupine (Lupinus perennis)

• Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)

• Phlox (Phlox spp.)

• Puccoon (Lithospermum spp.)

• Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)

• Yarrow (Achillea spp.)