# Silver-spotted Skipper (*Epargyreus clarus*) The Silver-spotted Skipper is a small butterfly with beautiful orange and brown wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places during the summer. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 144 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Silver-spotted Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Silver-spotted_Skipper_Epargyreus_clarus_Feeding_2116px.jpg&width=800) Photo: Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silver-spotted_Skipper_Epargyreus_clarus_Feeding_2116px.jpg) ## Appearance The Silver-spotted Skipper has a sturdy brown body with large, dark brown wings featuring bright orange-gold patches on the forewings. Its most distinctive mark is a large, square, iridescent silver spot on the underside of each hindwing. This silver spot helps distinguish it from other skippers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Epargyreus ## Interesting facts - Adult skippers spend winter tucked away as caterpillars or pupae, waiting for spring. - Baby Silver-spotted Skippers build tiny leaf tents to stay hidden from hungry birds. - Its flight pattern looks like it's "skipping" through the air, giving it its name! - They use their strong front legs to hold onto flowers while sipping nectar. ## Special abilities - **Lightning Leap:** Silver-spotted Skippers can fly incredibly fast and erratically because of powerful wing muscles, helping them dodge predators. - **Nectar Straw:** Silver-spotted Skippers have a long, tube-like proboscis that helps them reach deep nectar from many flowers. - **Leaf Roll Home:** Caterpillars of the Silver-spotted Skipper can roll a leaf into a shelter, using silk to hide and eat safely. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-50 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their caterpillar babies munch on various plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Adults drink nectar, while caterpillars munch on leaves. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, black locust leaves, wisteria leaves, clover leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Black Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-locust) (*Robinia pseudoacacia*) — Larvae eat its leaves for food and shelter. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — This bird hunts and eats skipper larvae and adults. - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Adults visit this flower for nectar, helping its reproduction. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [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 safe to watch, but don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Silver-spotted 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 Silver-spotted Skipper's wingspan? 35-50 mm ### How big is Silver-spotted Skipper? 15-20 mm ### How long does Silver-spotted Skipper live? 10-14 days ### How fast can Silver-spotted Skipper fly? 15 km/h ### What does Silver-spotted Skipper eat? Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their caterpillar babies munch on various plant leaves. ### Where is Silver-spotted Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Silver-spotted Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus [View all places to see Silver-spotted Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/silver-spotted-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: [Silver-spotted Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-spotted-skipper)