# Broad-Winged Skipper (*poanes viator*) The Broad-Winged Skipper is a small, colorful butterfly that flits around in sunny meadows. Kids will love spotting these butterflies as they dance from flower to flower! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Fields, gardens, and meadows near water sources. - **Also known as:** Broad-Winged Butterfly, Meadow Skipper ![Broad-Winged Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Poanes_viator_2191099.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles T. and John R. Bryson, , Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poanes_viator_2191099.jpg) ## Appearance The Broad-Winged Skipper has broad, rounded wings, usually dark brown with an orange flush on the hindwings. Its forewings feature distinct yellow or orange spots and a prominent patch, while the underside often shows a duller yellow stripe. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Poanes ## Interesting facts - Baby skippers, called larvae, build tiny leaf tents to stay safe inside. Wow! - Did you know skippers have antennae with little hooks at the end? Wow! - They get their name from their broad wings and speedy, skipping flight! Wow! - Unlike many butterflies, they usually hold their hindwings flat when resting. Wow! ## Special abilities - **Speedy Zigzag:** Broad-Winged Skipper can dart through the air with quick, erratic movements because of its powerful wing muscles that help them escape predators. - **Proboscis Straw:** Broad-Winged Skipper has a long, straw-like proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers. - **Sedge Sanctuary:** Broad-Winged Skipper larvae can munch on tough sedge leaves because their bodies are adapted to digest these specific wetland plants. - **Leafy Hideout:** Broad-Winged Skipper caterpillars can roll and tie sedge leaves together to create a secure, hidden shelter from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-50 mm - **Size:** 20-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult skippers sip flower nectar, while their young munch on leaves of wetland plants. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, while adults feed solely on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, sedge leaves, marsh grass blades - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Tussock Sedge (*Carex stricta*) — Larvae eat its leaves for growth and shelter. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adults drink nectar, helping to spread its pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Wild Bergamot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-bergamot) (*Monarda fistulosa*) — Another source of nectar for adult skippers. - **Eaten by:** [Common Green Darner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-green-darner) (*Anax junius*) — Fast-flying dragonflies prey on adult skippers. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broad-Winged Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Broad-Winged Skipper's wingspan? 35-50 mm ### How big is Broad-Winged Skipper? 20-30 mm ### How long does Broad-Winged Skipper live? 7-14 days ### What does Broad-Winged Skipper eat? Adult skippers sip flower nectar, while their young munch on leaves of wetland plants. ### Where is Broad-Winged Skipper usually found? Fields, gardens, and meadows near water sources. ### How does Broad-Winged Skipper hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Broad-Winged Skipper have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Fuller Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fuller-gardens) — New Hampshire, US · Botanical Garden - [Pee Dee River Rice Planters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pee-dee-river-rice-planters-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [The Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-ridge-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bill-burton-fishing-pier-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park [View all places to see Broad-Winged Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/broad-winged-skipper) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Broad-Winged Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-winged-skipper)