Arctic Skipper
Common NameArctic Skipper
Scientific NameCarterocephalus palaemon
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHeteropterinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, cream
HabitatMoist meadows, open woodlands, forest edges, bogs, and clearings
Geographic RangeNorthern North America (Alaska, Canada, northern US), Europe, and Asia (Holarctic)
Host Plantsvarious grasses (e.g., Calamagrostis, Poa, Bromus)
Flight PeriodLate May to early August (single brood)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on grass blades. Larvae feed on grasses, overwinter as a partially grown larva, and pupate in a loose cocoon among leaf litter in the spring.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive pattern of rectangular creamy-white spots on a dark brown to tawny-orange background, especially on the underside of the hindwings. The antennae have a hooked club with an orange tip.
Description
A small, tawny-orange skipper with a dark brown base color and prominent creamy-white rectangular spots on both forewings and hindwings, visible on the underside in the image.
