# Peck's Skipper (*Polites peckius*) Peck's Skipper is a small, brown butterfly that loves to flutter around flowers. They are quick and can be seen dancing in the air on sunny days. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 27 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Peck's Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Polites_peckius_25.jpg&width=800) Photo: Greg Hume, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polites_peckius_25.jpg) ## Appearance The Peck's Skipper is a small, stout-bodied butterfly with a rusty orange-brown upperside and distinctive black markings. Males have a prominent black scent patch (stigma) on their forewings. Its hindwings feature a unique row of pale, square-like spots on the underside, setting it apart. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Polites ## Interesting facts - Wow! Early scientists sometimes mistook these fast-flying insects for bees! - Wow! Its caterpillar eats grass, but the adult Peck's Skipper sips flower nectar! - Wow! Skippers are often considered a mix between a butterfly and a moth! - Wow! The antennae of a Peck's Skipper have a tiny hook at the very end! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Dash:** Peck's Skipper can fly in quick, erratic darting movements, making them incredibly difficult for predators to catch. - **Grassy Cloak:** Peck's Skipper has a body shape and coloration that helps them blend perfectly into tall grasses, hiding from hungry birds. - **Sweet Sipper:** Peck's Skipper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them reach deep inside flowers to drink sugary nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Peck's Skippers drink sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grass. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat grasses, while adults feed on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Clover nectar, Thistle nectar, Milkweed nectar, Various grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Adults visit clover flowers for nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Skippers help pollinate milkweed plants. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins are common predators of adult butterflies. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Caterpillars feed on leaves of various grasses. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are friendly and gentle, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Peck's 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 Peck's Skipper's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Peck's Skipper? 10-15 mm ### How long does Peck's Skipper live? 14-30 days ### How fast can Peck's Skipper fly? 20 km/h ### What does Peck's Skipper eat? Adult Peck's Skippers drink sweet nectar from flowers, while their caterpillars munch on grass. ### Where is Peck's Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Peck's Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Randolph Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/randolph-center-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Ridgewood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ridgewood-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District [View all places to see Peck's Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pecks-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: [Peck's Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pecks-skipper)