Large Roadside-Skipper
Common NameLarge Roadside-Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes vialis
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, clearings, roadsides, fields, prairies
Geographic RangeSouthern Canada, eastern and central United States, west to the Rocky Mountains
Host PlantsKentucky bluegrass, poverty oatgrass, Poa spp., Danthonia spp.
Flight PeriodApril to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating shelters from tied leaves, and overwinter as pupae or mature larvae.
Identification TipsLook for its dark, uniform hindwing underside, which lacks prominent markings or a pale patch. The forewing spots are small and white, and its antennae have a distinctive hooked club.
Description
A small, dark brown skipper with a stout, hairy body and several small white spots on its forewings. The underside of the hindwings is typically uniform dark brown or grayish.
