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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 809 verified sightings
Observation date: May 22, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 05, 2016
Submitted by: Bill Thompson 2524
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 20, 2018
Submitted by: WhiteRaven
Region: Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 17, 2014
Submitted by: Falcontennis
Region: Alger County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Aug 26, 2018
Observation date: Jun 06, 2018
Submitted by: lrosen
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 06, 2007
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 26, 2018
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 28, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: mbalame99
Region: Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Jun 09, 2018
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: May 31, 2018
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 29, 2018
Observation date: Jun 04, 2013
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Skamania County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 17, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Kanabec County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Kanabec County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 29, 2018
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: David M. Gascoigne
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Dec 25, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Nov 30, 2017
Observation date: Jun 15, 2017
Submitted by: Little Davey
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: JHummel
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: layberry
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: Jun 17, 2015
Submitted by: Kathy Brown