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 217 - 240 of 942 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: Rick Henle
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Jun 04, 2012
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 03, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: BOGwalker
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 01, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Forest County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: stonehollow
Region: Wright County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: Rick Henle
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: May 30, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: Peggy O
Region: Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 2012
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: Jul 07, 2005
Submitted by: pcastrovillo
Region: Valley County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jan 29, 2012
Observation date: Jul 02, 2009
Submitted by: BOGwalker
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 28, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom Dodd+Cathy Dodd+MBC)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 04, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (NABA (Bill Benner))
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gail Howe)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M.Lynch+S.Carroll)
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 1993
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pam Weatherbee)
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 21, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mark Lynch + Sheila Carroll)
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 30, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Carl Kamp)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 05, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Springer et al)
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Elise Barry + Barbara Walker)
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 29, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Brian Cassie)
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 04, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Carl Kamp)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 02, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom Dodd+Cathy Asselin)
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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