Broad-winged Skipper
Common NameBroad-winged Skipper
Scientific NamePoanes viator
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsorange, brown
HabitatMarshes, wet meadows, bogs, fens, and other wetland habitats
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and Nebraska
Host PlantsCarex lacustris, Carex stricta, Carex hyalinolepis, Phragmites australis
Flight PeriodLate June to early September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on sedge leaves. Larvae feed on sedges, overwintering as partially grown larvae in leaf shelters before pupating in spring.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its broad, rounded wings and tawny coloration, often with indistinct lighter markings. It lacks prominent dark spots or clear patterns on the underside of the hindwing, and is typically found in wetland environments.
Description
A medium-sized skipper with broad, rounded wings, typically tawny orange to brown, often with faint lighter patches on the forewings.
