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Species Epargyreus clarus - Silver-spotted Skipper - Hodges#3870

 Silver-spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus Unidentified Butterfly - Epargyreus clarus Silver Spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus Silver Spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus Silver-spotted skipper - Epargyreus clarus Silver-spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus - male Silver-spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus Hesperiidae, Silver-spotted skipper - Epargyreus clarus
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)
Subfamily Eudaminae (Dicot Skippers)
Genus Epargyreus
Species clarus (Silver-spotted Skipper - Hodges#3870)
Hodges Number
3870
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Epargyreus clarus (Cramer, 1775)
Size
43-50mm Wingspan(1)
Identification
Wings chocolate brown. Fore wings have an irregular golden band below and smaller yellow areas above. Hind wings plain above except for white fringe; large, silvery-white irregular spot below. Caterpillar, to 2”, has brownish-red head with two orange red "eye-spots," and yellowish to green spindle shaped body with narrow dark green bands.(1)

Range
Throughout most of North America.(1)
Habitat
Gardens, roadsides, and open areas.(1)
Season
Adults fly throughout summer.(1)
Food
Caterpillar eats foliage of leguminous plants, including locust trees, wisteria, alfalfa, and stick-tights.(1)
Life Cycle
It hibernates as pupa
The larvae feed within nests made by tying several leaves together with silk. Pupation is in loose cocoons spun among the leaves on the ground.(2)
2 generation per year in the south; 1 and maybe a partial in the north(2)
Remarks
This is one of the most conspicuous skippers, partly because of its size and partly because of its distinct silvery markings, which show while the insect rests. The caterpillars hide all day in silken nests among foliage, emerging to feed at night. There is one generation a year in the North; two or more in the South.(1)
Print References
Milne(1)
Works Cited
1.Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques. 1981. Fireside.
2.Eastern Forest Insects
Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.