This little spread-wing skipper has a wingspan of approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches. The head is black with white spots. Above, it is dark brown to black with a spiral-shaped line of small white spots on the forewing near the margin. The number of spots varies. Females have more spots than males and also a row of indistinct light spots near the margin of the hindwing. The caterpillar is pale green with a dark green lateral stripe on the side. It is covered with many tiny yellowish spots and short, light colored hairs. The head is black.
This skipper is fairly common in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. They can be seen in weedy areas, roadsides and gardens. Look for them on flowers, low vegetation or on the ground.
The caterpillar makes a shelter of a leaf which it fastens together with silk threads. It comes out of the shelter at night to feed on leaves. The mature larva falls to the ground and overwinters in a leaf shelter. It pupates inside the shelter in the spring. Foodplants are pigweed and lamb’s quarters.
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