Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Mating pair, Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

Silver-spotteds are one of our most common and familiar butterflies, particularly abundant in the mountains. They are somewhat misnamed, since the spot is white, not silver. Carroll Co., VA 6/29/2002.

Easy to identify, but watch out for the uncommon Hoary Edge.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

This individual could barely fly. The wings look fine, but you can see raw flesh exposed on the top side.

Photos taken at Weymouth Woods, Moore Co., NC 4/13/02.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Clay Co., NC 5/21/05.
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Clay Co., NC 5/21/05.
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Female (right) being buzzed by a courting male.

Clay Co., NC 5/21/05.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) caterpillar

The yellow-greenish striped caterpillars have a large head with two orange eye-spots.

Carroll Co., VA 9/5/05.

Caught by a crab spider.

Craven Co., NC 9/6/03.

North Carolina Butterflies

Revised 10/18/05 cwcook@duke.edu

All photographs and text ©2005 by Will Cook, unless otherwise noted.