The Pepper and Salt Skipper is a small butterfly in the Family Hesperiidae with a wingspan of about 1 to 1 ½ inches (1). They are reported in southern Canada, Maine west to southern Manitoba, south to Georgia, north Florida, and southeastern Texas. They are mostly absent from the coastal plain (2, 3, 4). In Maryland, they are ranked an S2 species, in need of conservation (5).
The Pepper and Salt Skipper, also known as the “Greenish Little Skipper” can be identified by the greenish-grey on the underside of their hindwing, with pale postmedian spots and a pale checkered fringe (2). The upperside is reddish-brown with pale postmedian spots (4). The male has a black stigma (2, 4).
In Maryland, the Pepper and Salt Skipper has one flight period from mid-May to mid-June (6). As an adult, they can be found on damp soil or visiting Fleabane, Viburnum, and Blackberry (1, 6).
Females lay their eggs close to their larval host plants, Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Indian Woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium), and Fowl Mannagrass (Glyceria striata) (2, 5). Once hatched the larvae is pale whitish-green, with a white lateral line and two dark lines on the middorsal and subdorsal regions (2). Their head is dark brown with two pale vertical stripes on each side (1, 2). During their larval stage, they will often hibernate. Once mature, the larvae pupate as a pale yellow chrysalis (2).
In Maryland, the Pepper and Salt Skipper enjoys glades, woods, and boggy stream banks (6). They are absent from the Coastal Plains region of eastern Maryland.
Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.
© 2020 Price Lab for Entomology, Courtney Rogall