The Silver Spotted Skipper is a butterfly species that shares characteristics with both butterflies and moths. It is widely distributed across the United States and parts of neighboring countries. When the wings are open, they appear brownish black with yellow, golden, or orange markings. Males have two elongated black marks in the center of the forewings, which are absent in females. The hindwings are lobed, giving them a distinctive shape.

With wings closed, the pattern becomes more subdued, but each hindwing features a prominent metallic white band that gives the species its name.

 

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Sliver-spotted Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Eudaminae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/4 – 2 5/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Disturbed and open woods, foothills, streams, and  prairie waterways

 

 

🪴 Host Plants

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

• American Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

• American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

• False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)

• Groundnut (Apios americana)

• Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

• Thicket Bean (Phaseolus polystachios)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Silver-spotted Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

• Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)