Spreadwing Skippers

Spread-winged skippers (Pyrginae) are one of four different subfamilies of butterflies in the skipper family (Hesperiidae).

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Skippers are commonly described as small butterflies with brown or dark shaded bodies that typically fold their wings while stationary. Spreadwing skippers are the general exception to the rule. At rest they often spread their wings.

The very common Silver-spotted Skipper pictured on the left is shown with its wings folded to highlight its more colorful underside. When it spreads its wings at rest, the top of the wings show only the mustard or darker spots.

There are seven different species of Checkered-skippers in the United States. With the except the Common checkered-skipper, their populations are regionally limited.

The Two-banded Checkered Skipper on the left is the West Coast variant. It shows the characteristic dark and white checker pattern on the top side of the wings. The Common Checkered Skipper also has a West Coast population and can be differentiated from the Two-banded Checkered Skipper by the presence of a submarginal row of spots (white spots at the bottom of the wing).

Duskywings are another large group of species within the spreadwing skipper family, with at least one species in all regions of the United States. In many areas a couple of species overlap. Most duskywings resemble the one in the picture. They are a mix of brown and gray colors. The white spotted patterns on the wings serve as key identification marks.

© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels