Swarthy Skipper
Nastra lherminier (Latreille, [1824])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown; forewing may have 2 very faint light spots. Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with lighter veins.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch near the ground on grass stems; most mating occurs in the late afternoon.
Flight: Two broods from May-September, earlier in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius).
Adult Food: Nectar from low-growing flowers including selfheal, red clover, tick trefoil, purple vetch, New Jersey tea, and peppermint.
Habitat: Grassy, open areas such as sand barrens, meadows, hillsides, fields.
Range: Eastern United States from Missouri east to southern New York; south to eastern Texas, the Gulf states, and southern Florida. Strays north to northern Minnesota, southern Michigan, and western Kansas.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 785 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 16, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 11, 2023
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Aug 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 08, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2021
Submitted by: rchensley
Region: Texas, Kendall County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 08, 2023
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Terrie Johnson)
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: henryr10
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2014
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 07, 2022
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2021
Submitted by: digginflowers
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 26, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Carteret County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 26, 2021
Observation date: May 27, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Suwannee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 21, 2021
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: LauraWS
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: