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Species Atalopedes huron - Huron Sachem

Skipper Unknown - Atalopedes huron - male Female Sachem - Atalopedes huron - female Skipper? - Atalopedes huron Sachem - Atalopedes huron - female skipper - Atalopedes huron Skipper on goldenrod - Atalopedes huron Skipper in Asters - Atalopedes huron furry yellow moth - Atalopedes huron
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 Hesperiinae (Grass Skippers)
Tribe Hesperiini
Subtribe Hesperiina
Genus Atalopedes
Species huron (Huron Sachem)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Atalopedes campestris (Boisduval)
Orig. Comb: Hesperia campestris Boisduval, 1852

Formerly treated as subspecies huron under Atalopedes campestris, it has upgraded to full species status by Zhang et al. 2022
Identification
Adult: upperside of male forewing yellowish-orange with wide brown border and large rectangular black stigma. Female has smaller black stigma with square transparent white spot at distal end. Female hindwing underside has medial band of squarish cream spots on yellowish-brown ground color
Larva: head black; body dark olive green with dark brownish dorsal line and tiny darker bumps [adapted from description at Butterflies of Canada]
Range
Resident in southeastern United States, west to Colorado and SE Arizona, and south all the way to South America. Stages a late summer/fall migration every year, rarely reaching as far as southern Canada.
Note that Atalopedes campestris is now the western species, and AZ is the only state where both species are present
Habitat
Almost any open space: fields, meadows, parks, roadsides, disturbed areas, lawns, etc.
Season
Two or more flights in south; migrant in north. April-June, July-October (North Carolina). August-October (upper midwest, northeast). All year in Florida and southern Texas.
Food
Larvae feed on various grasses, including Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon), crabgrass (Digitaria), St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and goosegrass (Eleusine).
Adults take nectar from flowers of many herbaceous and shrubby plants.
Life Cycle
Three to five generations per year, depending on latitude and local conditions. Males perch on ground in grassy areas to look for females. Females lay single eggs on dry grass blades in the afternoon.
Remarks
The Sachem, Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), and Whirlabout (Polites vibex) are called the "three wizards" by butterfly-watchers.(1) Perhaps one has to be something of a wizard to identify them as they flit about on fall flowers.
See Also
Resembles skippers of genus Hesperia but antennae more hooked than in Hesperia.
Print References
Glassberg, p. 181, plate 57 (1)
Brock, p. 302 (2)
Scott, #500, p. 448, gives details of life history. (3)
Internet References
Works Cited
1.Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East
Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999. Oxford University Press.
2.Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co.
3.The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide
James A. Scott. 1992. Stanford University Press.