Pompeius Skipper
Common NamePompeius Skipper
Scientific NamePompeius verna
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, meadows, fields, roadsides
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas
Host PlantsPanic Grass (Panicum spp.), Purpletop (Tridens flavus)
Flight PeriodMay to September (two broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating leaf shelters, and overwinter as partially grown larvae before pupating in spring.
Identification TipsKey features include the uniform tawny-brown underside of the hindwing without distinct spots, and in males, a prominent black stigma on the forewing. Its flight is typically fast and low.
Description
A small, robust skipper with a hairy, tawny-brown body and dark brown wings, often with subtle darker markings. The underside of the hindwing is typically a uniform tawny-brown.
