The Little Glassywing is a dark blackish-brown, medium-sized skipper. It has whitish, translucent spots on both the upper and undersides of the forewing. The hindwing below has a faint row of pale spots. The underside of the hindwing often has a purplish sheen. Males and females are similarly colored with one exception: the largest central spot found below the end of the black stigma of the male is elongated; the same spot on the female is square. There is a distinctive white patch just below the antennal club in both sexes. The wing fringes are buff colored.

 

“Little Glassywing” by Pondhawk, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Little Glassywing Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/16 – 1 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Moist places near shaded wood edges

 

Little Glassywing Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Purpletop Tridens Grass

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers
  • Dogbane
  • Peppermint
  • Joe-Pye Weed
  • Common Milkweed
  • Swamp Milkweed
  • Mountain Mint
  • Buttonbush
  • Blazing Star
  • Purple Coneflower
  • Wild Indigo
  • Thistle