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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 753 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 21, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 10, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: lawandasmithmobley
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: mmeshaka
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: cobal2913
Region: Coshocton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: mmeshaka
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 11, 2017
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 04, 2020
Observation date: May 21, 2020
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Haywood County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2019
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 25, 2020
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 02, 2020
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 14, 2019
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Creek County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: Lissa Marie
Region: Greene County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
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