Arctic Skipper
Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas, 1771)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is black with squarish orange spots. Underside of the forewing is orange with black spots; underside of hindwing is red-orange with cream spots outlined in black.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Adults rest with their wings closed, but bask with hindwings open wide and forewings open to about 45 degrees. To find receptive females, males perch on low vegetation and sometimes patrol in openings. Females lay eggs singly on leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars live and feed within nests of silked-together leaves; fully-grown caterpillars overwinter in their nests and then pupate within them in the spring.
Flight: One brood from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses including purple reedgrass (Calamagrostis purpurascens) in California, and bromes (Bromus) in Europe; probably others.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including iris in California.
Habitat: Glades and openings in heavily forested woods, moist meadows, and streamsides.
Range: Central Alaska south to central California, south in the Rocky Mountains to northwest Wyoming, east across the Great Lakes states to New York and New England. Eurasia.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 928 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 08, 2025
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: gp
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2025
Observation date: May 06, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 11, 2025
Observation date: May 31, 1987
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 21, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: James F Parker
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 29, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 29, 2024
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