Peck's Skipper
Common NamePeck's Skipper
Scientific NamePolites peckius
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, yellow, orange
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, open fields, lawns, roadsides
Geographic RangeEastern and central North America, from southern Canada south to Florida and Texas
Host PlantsKentucky bluegrass, orchard grass, various other grasses
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae are green with a dark head, feeding on grasses and overwintering as partially grown larvae. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the small size, dark brown wings with a series of yellow-orange spots on the forewing, and the distinctive L-shaped yellow patch on the underside of the hindwing (especially in males). Males also have a prominent black stigma on the forewing.
Description
A small, robust skipper with dark brown wings featuring prominent yellow-orange spots on the forewings, and a distinctive L-shaped yellow patch on the underside of the hindwing (though not visible in this dorsal shot).
