Silver-spotted Skipper

Here's the first Silver-spotted Skipper I've met this year. Though a fairly small butterfly overall, they are relatively large for a skipper butterfly. And they're fairly distinctive, mostly dark brown but with some tan and white patches on the wings. I don't think they're the most common skippers around here, though their size and coloring probably makes them the easiest ones to identify.

Though the one in the picture below is kind of camouflaged, a lot of time you'll see them stand out more as they nectar on flowers. As kids (aka caterpillars) they use various legumes as host plants. 

April 28, 2021 at the Plainsboro Preserve
Photo 128318607, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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