Species Atalopedes huron - Huron Sachem

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

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]

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

Almost any open space: fields, meadows, parks, roadsides, disturbed areas, lawns, etc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Resembles skippers of genus Hesperia but antennae more hooked than in Hesperia.

Glassberg, p. 181, plate 57 (1)

Brock, p. 302 (2)

Scott, #500, p. 448, gives details of life history. (3)

Butterflies of America - BOA

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies of Canada - BOC (CBIF)