Most skippers are frustrating to identify. So, like most things, we start with the simple and move on to the more difficult ones. This skipper had distinct marking on both top and underside of the wings that made it fairly easy to identify. This was a Hoary Skipper (Achalarus lyciades).
Showing both top and underside of the wings
A close view of the top of the wing
A close view of the underside of the wing.
The Hoary Edge belongs to the Subfamily Eudaminae, known as Dicot Skippers. As explained by Wayne at Niches in his discussion of a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) the larvae of dicot skippers prefer a diet of dicotyledon plants, especially legumes, whereas the larvae of other skippers feed on monocotyledon plants including bamboos, palms, lilies, daffodils, irises, hostas, and orchids.
Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification resources:
- Westcentral Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm: Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)
- BugGuide: Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) [dorsal] [ventral]
2 comments:
Yet another example of how "they all look alike" until we begin to really pay attention. Thanks for the lesson.
nellie
Fortunately this was an easy one. I'm still struggling with the 'more difficult' ones. Seems to be a lot of minor variations of markings within so many species that make identification so challenging.
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