The larvae feed on leaves of herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees in the pea family (Fabaceae) including false indigobush ( Amorpha fruticosa L.), American hogpeanut ( Amphicarpaea bracteata Fernald), Atlantic pidgeonwings or butterfly pea ( Clitoria mariana L.), groundnut ( Apios americana Medik.), American wisteria ( Wisteria frutescens Poir.) and the introduced Dixie ticktrefoil ( Desmodium tortuosum DC.), kudzu ( Pueraria montana Merr.), black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.), Chinese wisteria ( Wisteria sinensis DC.) and a variety of other legumes (Minno et al 2005, Scott 1986). There are three or more over-lapping generations in Florida - fewer in more northern parts of the distribution (Glassberg et al. The pupal stage is the overwintering stage (Allen 1997, Minno et al. When mature, the larvae pupate inside the leaf nest. In addition to predation and parasitism by insects, the larvae are susceptible to a Baculovirus (nuclear polyhedrosis virus) infection (Nordin 1975). Silver-spotted skipper larvae utilize their anal comb to throw their frass a distance up to 38 body lengths (Weiss 2003). Many caterpillars that live in leaf nests, including the silver-spotted skipper, forcibly eject their frass for considerable distances to eliminate these chemical cues. Insect frass may provide chemical cues for parasitic wasps to the location of prey insects (Weiss 2006). When disturbed, larvae regurgitate a greenish, bitter-tasting, defensive chemical (Minno et al.
The sphecid wasp, Stictia carolina (Fabricius), also sometimes provisions its nests with silver-spotted skipper larvae (Hook 1981). However, Polistes (Vespidae) wasps learn to recognize the shelters to find the larvae and then extract them from the leaf nests (Jones et al. Presumably a major function of the shelters is protection from predators. They leave the shelters only to feed or to make larger shelters. During development, the larvae make four distinct types of shelters (Lind et al. Larger larvae often silk several leaves together to form shelters. First instar larvae make shelters on the apical halves of leaves by cutting a flap on the leaf margin, folding it over and attaching it with silk. Like most skippers, silver-spotted skipper larvae live in leaf shelters. Adult females are reported to lay their eggs directly on the host plants or occasionally on nearby non-host plants (Cech and Tudor 2005, Daniels 2003, Minno and Minno 1999, Opler and Krizek 1984). Hall, University of Florida.Īdult males rest on tree limbs or other tall vegetation and fly out to investigate flying objects - including females. An adult silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), feeding at bird dropping. 2002.), mud (Scott 1986, Brewer and Winter 1986), and occasionally on animal feces.įigure 3. Adults have long "tongues" and feed on nectar from a variety of flowers (Ifter et al. They frequent edges of forests, swamps, brushy areas, and other open areas where nectar plants are found. Life Cycle and Biology (Back to Top)Īdults have the jerky flight typical of many skippers. Pupa: The pupa is dark brown with black and white markings. Larva of the silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), in opened leaf-shelter on false indigo. The abdomen is yellow with darker transverse stripes and spots. The head is dark reddish brown with large yellow eye patches. Larva: The larva is up to 2.0 inches in length.
SKIPPER CATERPILLAR PATCH
The under-side of the wings is brown with a large median irregular-shaped white patch on each wing and a short rounded tail. The upper-side of the wings is brown with a median row of yellowish-gold spots on the forewing that is also visible from beneath. In the West, it is more restricted to mountainous areas (Brock and Kaufman 2002).Īdult: The wing spread is 1.75 to 2.40 inches (Daniels 2003). The silver-spotted skipper is found throughout most of the United States and into southern Canada (Scott 1986). An adult silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), feeding at a flower. The silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), characterized by a large white spot on the underside of each hind wing, is one of our largest, most widespread and most recognizable skippers.įigure 1. Introduction - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle and Biology - Hosts - Economic Importance - Selected References Introduction (Back to Top) Scientific name: Epargyreus clarus (Cramer) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae)
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