Species Amblyscirtes hegon - Pepper and Salt Skipper - Hodges#4096

4096

In US, wingspan 25-31 mm (nearctica.com)

In Canada, wingspan 18-22 mm (CBIF)

Adult: dark brown with curved line of small white spots extending from the costa of the forewing, and brown and white checkered fringes on both wings; beneath, hindwing and tip of forewing are gray, with slightly greenish tinge, most noticeable in fresh specimens; forewing spots are repeated on the underside and there is a faint chain of linked pale spots on the hindwing underside

Larva: pale green white with dark green dorsal stripe and white lateral stripes; head is dark brown with paler vertical stripes and bands (CBIF)

eastern US (but absent from most of the coastal plain) and southeastern Canada to Manitoba (one record from Saskatchewan)

wooded areas and wood edges

adults fly from April to July in the south; May and June in the north

larvae feed on Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis), Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans and S. secundum), and Indian Woodoats Grass (Chasmanthium [=Uniola] latifolia) - also called Spikegrass

adults nectar at viburnum, blackberry, honeysuckle, and lilac; also found at roadside puddles

one generation per year

Apparently, northern specimens are considerably smaller than southern ones (see Size section above).

pinned adult images plus description, distribution, biology, etc. (Butterflies & Skippers of North America, nearctica.com)

pinned adult image plus description, distribution, biology, etc. (Butterflies of Canada, CBIF)