A new-for-me skipper:
Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion)!
… or …
Dukes’ Skipper (Euphyes dukesi)!
(Either way, it’s a new-for-me skipper!)
As recently as earlier this summer, I was convinced that nearly all of the skippers I would see would be either Fiery Skippers (Hylephila phyleus) or Sachems (Atalopedes campestris).
Well, or Silver-spotted Skippers (Epargyreus clarus), but those are super-easy to ID!
Last month I photographed two “new” skippers on consecutive days
» Zabulon Skipper, Poanes zabulon,
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-08-21
» Dun Skipper, Euphyes vestris,
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-08-22
that I hadn’t previously identified in our home garden or the campus garden by the greenhouses. That led to a decision.
Whereas, there really haven’t been many butterflies this summer, and
Whereas, I hadn’t spotted a new-for-me species in some time
Therefore, be it resolved that I would shift my focus to skippers and see how many more there might be in my area.
Now the answer is at least seven (other than the Silver-spotted Skipper):
1. Clouded Skipper (“Lerema accius”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-10-22
2. Delaware Skipper (“Anatrytone logan”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-08-17
3. Dion Skipper (“Euphyes dion,” above)
4. Dun Skipper (“Euphyes vestris”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-08-22
5. Fiery Skipper (“Hylephila phyleus”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-09-01
6. Sachem (“Atalopedes campestris”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-06-26
7. Zabulon Skipper (“Poanes zabulon”),
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-08-21
ID’ed at BAMONA as Euphyes dion or “Dion Skipper”;
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/928812
ID’ed at BugGuide as Euphyes dukesi or “Dukes’ Skipper”;
http://bugguide.net/node/view/839287
One year ago (“This could go in the purple kitchen, Clare!”):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-05
Two years ago (“‘Layers’ II” ):
http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-09-05
