A Bunch of Zabulon Skippers

Here's a few skipper butterflies that're kind of good-looking when you get a good look at them: Zabulon Skippers. At least I'm pretty sure it's a Zabulon; there are other skippers in the area that look similar:

  • Hobomok Skipper - More common in northern New Jersey, and generally veinier.
  • Delaware Skipper - The forewing should have a weird harpoon-like dark shape, and it's also rather veiny.
  • Broad-winged Skipper - Should have an even larger dark mark on the forewing that makes the yellow/orange patch resemble "a boot kicking a stone".
In the 1st 2 pictures you can see the yellow/orange patch has a little point or hook out wide that's lacking in the other butterflies. In the 3rd picture you only seen the (less distinctive) wing bottoms, yellowish with spots. This is consistent with the Zabulon, not so much for the Hobomok.

Skipper identification isn't easy, especially if you don't get a picture and don't quickly spot a field mark. Too many of these small butterflies bear at least a superficial resemblance to 1 another.

May 25, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 292816830, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

May 25, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 292817813, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

May 25, 2023 at Duke Farms
Photo 292819014, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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