The Pepper and Salt Skipper is a dark brown butterfly that is easy to identify from the underside. The ground color of the wings appears as though it has been sprinkled with tiny grains of salt and pepper, giving the species its name.

Both wings on the underside show several white spots in the basal and medial areas, along with a post-medial band of white spots. The wing fringes are lined with alternating squares of brown and white, forming a checkered edge. The upperside is dark reddish brown, with a band of small white spots on the forewing.

 

“Pepper and Salt Skipper” by Tom Murray, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Pepper and Salt Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 – 1 3/16 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Near streams in forest glades and edges

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata)

• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

• River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Pepper and Salt Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

• Miami Mist (Phacelia purshii)

• Sunnybells (Schoenolirion spp.)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)

• Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)

• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

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