Dun Skipper. Euphyes vestris. Identifying characteristics. Similar species. Wisconsin Butterflies. butterflies tiger beetles robber flies

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Clifford O’Neal’
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Page 1 of 6 Wisconsin Butterflies butterflies tiger beetles robber flies Search species Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris The Dun Skipper is one of the most common skippers in Wisconsin and is found

1 Page 1 of 6 Wisconsin Butterflies butterflies tiger beetles robber flies Search species Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris The Dun Skipper is one of the most common skippers in Wisconsin and is found throughout the state. I think it is more common in the northern part of the state where it becomes abundant after the European Skippers abundance has waned. I have seen 100s of these skippers in just small open areas or along roadsides in woodlands where it can often be found nectaring on dogbane (Apocynum sp.) or milkweed. Weekly sightings for Dun Skipper Identifying characteristics Below, this skipper is mainly a black skipper with just a hint of a lighter spot band on the hindwing. Both the male and female are very dark from above. The male has a hard to see stigma that blends in with the dark color of the wings, while the female usually has two very tiny light spots in the middle of the forewing. In good light and especially in fresh specimens the head of the Dun Skipper is golden brown. Similar species Both male and female can be confused with dark females of the Northern Broken-Dash and male or female Little Glassywings, both of which are very dark skippers. If seen from below, in general the spot band of the Northern Broken-Dash is the most prominent, the Little Glassywing not as obvious and the Dun Skipper is very light to nonexistent, especially in worn individuals. From above the spots in the center of the wing of the female Dun Skipper are very tiny, with the Little Glassywing having spots, both in the male and in the female, much more prominent, and the Northern Broken-Dashes spots being somewhat intermediate and also usually somewhat yellowish. In the Field Guide to The Skipper Butterflies of Illinois they note that the Dun Skipper can be told from these two skippers by the lack of

2 Page 2 of 6 middle tibia spines, both of which the others do have. This is very difficult to see in most of my photos but it may be useful in some cases. The spines on the middle tibia are obvious in this photo of the Northern Broken-Dash here. here. Habitat Found in a variety of habitats including open upland habitats but may be found nectaring in wetland areas. This species is more common along woodland edges, and trails through woodlands in the northern part of the state. Flight In Illinois this species is double-brooded in the southern part of the state and supposedly single-brooded in the northern part of the state. In individuals of this species were seen at Hard Scrabble SNA on May 30th, an extremely early date for this species in Wisconsin. Whether this was just an anomaly because of the warm spring or it does represent a first of two generations at this site is still to be determined. Nevertheless, this species normally has a single brood that may be found from late June through late August (my late date is August 31, 2004). In the Michigan Butterflies & Skippers they list the early date as June 23 for this species. Abundance This species can become very abundant and 100s are not uncommon. Early Dun Skipper Sightings Date County Reported by May 30, 2007 Lafayette Todd Sima Jun 23, 2007 Wood Ron Arnold Jun 23, 2007 Iowa Todd Sima and Mike Reese Jun 23, 2007 Lafayette Todd Sima and Mike Reese Jun 23, 2007 Dane Dave Fallow Locations

3 Page 3 of 6 Skippers Grass-Skippers Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, July 6, 2003.

4 Page 4 of 6 Lunch Creek Meadows SNA, Waushara Co., WI, July 6, 2005 Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood Co., WI, July 6, 2003.

5 Page 5 of 6 Male, Chaffee Creek Area, West of County CH, Waushara Co., WI, July 17, Chaffee Creek Area, East of Hwy 39/51, Marquette Co., WI, July 17, 2005.

6 Page 6 of 6 Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ashland Co., WI. July 22, Show lightbox 2009 wisconsinbutterflies.org contact about

Northern Broken-Dash. Wallengrenia egeremet. Identifying characteristics. Similar species. Wisconsin Butterflies

Northern Broken-Dash. Wallengrenia egeremet. Identifying characteristics. Similar species. Wisconsin Butterflies Page 1 of 7 Wisconsin Butterflies butterflies tiger beetles robber flies Search species Northern Broken-Dash Wallengrenia egeremet The Northern Broken-Dash is found throughout Wisconsin. This is not the