Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1323268

Carus Skipper
Polites carus

Observation date: April 30, 2022
Submitted by: Chrustay
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: This was a very confusing butterfly for me. I'd settled on H. uncas though I was not very happy. Upon further reflection and study, I'm much happier with this ID. But, I may still be wrong. Nectaring greedily at Hymenoxys odorata - moving hardly at all and never leaving the same plant on which we first found it. Flower and butterfly were on a sandbar/river bank of the Gila River. Bright sunny day and around noon the flowers on the river bank were literally covered with butterflies and other insects. Additional photos on iNaturalist at: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/113976634
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 06, 2022
Coordinator notes: this one can be a head-scratcher, but I agree with your diagnosis. I hope I may borrow an image or two for BofNM . . . ?
Checklist region(s): United States, New Mexico, Grant County