Polites peckius

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Peck's skipper
Polites peckius 25.jpg
Near Cincinnati, Ohio
Polites peckius.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
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P. peckius
Binomial name
Polites peckius
W. Kirby, 1837

Polites peckius, the Peck's skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). This skipper ranges across Canada from British Columbia, as far north as Cartwright, Labrador; Moar Lake, Ontario; Leaf Rapids, Manitoba; and the Hay River area in Alberta. In the US, it ranges in most of the northern and central states, except on the west coast.

Contents

Description

Both sexes have dark brown and yellowish-orange markings as adults. Ventrally, both sexes have a large straw-coloured patch in the middle of the hindwing. This patch helps distinguish it from other Polites. [2] Males are lighter than females, and they have a stigma (round or oval mark) on the forewing. [3] Like other skippers, the ends of the antennae have tiny hooks. The wingspan ranges from 19 to 27 mm.

Behavior and life cycle

Peck's skipper flies from May to October, and produces two or three generations each year. [3] Adults consume nectar from flowers including red clover, purple vetch, and thistles. They typically live in grassy habitats including meadows, marshes, and roadsides. Similar to other grass skippers, this species commonly rests with the forewings held open in a V shape, while the hindwings are held out horizontally to the side. They may also have all four folded together so that only the bottom surfaces are visible. [4] Males perch in sunny open areas to await receptive females, and courtship takes place throughout the day. [3] After mating, females lay single eggs. The caterpillars consume rice cutgrass, bluegrass and other grasses. [3]

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<i>Epargyreus clarus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Eurema lisa</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Megisto cymela</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Ancyloxypha numitor</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Polites themistocles</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Anatrytone logan</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Polites vibex</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Ochlodes sylvanoides</i> Species of butterfly

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Chequered skipper Species of butterfly

The chequered skipper, or arctic skipper, but not to be confused with the large chequered skipper, is a small woodland butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. This butterfly can live in grasslands. The upperside of the butterfly is brown with orange spots and on its underside the chequered skipper is orange with brown spots. Chequered skippers are found in Great Britain and other European regions, but seen locally in Japan and in North America. The size of the chequered skipper ranges from 19 to 32 mm with females being larger. In the 1970s, the chequered skipper went extinct in England due to the new management of the woodlands.

References

  1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Polites peckius Peck's Skipper". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. Peck's Skipper, Butterflies of Canada
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Peck's Skipper Polites peckius (W. Kirby, 1837) | Butterflies and Moths of North America". www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  4. "Peck's Skipper". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 22 August 2021.