Polites peckius

Peck's Skipper
Near Cincinnati, OH
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Polites
Species: P. peckius
Binomial name
Polites peckius
W. Kirby, 1837

The Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius) is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). This skipper ranges across Canada from British Columbia, as far north as Cartwright, Labrador; Moar Lake, Ontario; Leaf Rapids, Manitoba; and the Hay River area in Alberta. In the US, it ranges in most of the northern and central states, except on the west coast.

Description

Both sexes have dark brown and yellowish-orange markings. Ventrally, both sexes have a large straw-coloured patch in the middle of the hindwing. This patch helps distinguish it from other Polites.[1] Like other skippers the ends of the antennae have tiny hooks. Wingspan is from 19 to 27 mm.

Behaviour

Flies from June through early August on flowers, at roadsides, wet meadows, and in gardens.

References

  1. Peck's Skipper, Butterflies of Canada

External links

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