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| Tawney-edged Skipper |
Latin
Name: Polites themistocles |
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Genus: Polites Species: themistocles |
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Comments: |
| The Tawny-edged Skipper's distinct orange band along the upper edge of the forewing is visible from both the dorsal and ventral surfaces. This highly visible feature quickly differentiates it from many other common brown skippers. The species may be frequently encountered in more suburban locations including home gardens. Adults have a low, rapid flight and often alight on bare soil or low vegetation. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
two generations |
Egg: |
greenish white, laid singly on host leaves |
Larva: |
reddish brown with dark dorsal stripe and black head |
Host Plants: |
various grasses including panic grasses |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
various grasses including panic grasses |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
stream corridors, wet meadows and fields |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
.8 - 1.2 |
Centimeters: |
2 - 3 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
dissimilar; female darker with reduced orange coloration |
Compare: |
Baracoa Skipper (Polites baracoa) is smaller, has more rounded wings, and a band of light spots across the hindwing below. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- male is dark brown with prominent black stigma and tawny orange scaling along forewing costa; female is dark brown with small yellow spots across forewing and reduced orange along costal margins
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Below:
- light brown to olive brown with distinct contrasting orange scaling along costal margin of forewing
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
