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Pepper and Salt Skipper
Pepper and Salt Skipper
Scientific Name
Scientific Name
(Amblyscirtes hegon)
(Amblyscirtes hegon)
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).
Identification
Identification
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).
Photo by © Bryan Reynolds
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
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).
Habitat
Habitat
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.
Larval Host Plants in Maryland:
Larval Host Plants in Maryland:
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass
Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizLicensed under: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Indian Woodoats
Indian Woodoats
Distribution in Maryland
Distribution in Maryland
Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.
References
References
- Iowa State University, Department of Entomology. Bug Guide. https://bugguide.net/node/view/16328. Last accessed 14 August 2020.
- Scott, J. A. 1977. The butterflies of North America: A natural history and field guide. Stanford University Press. pp. 461
- Wisconsin Butterflies. 2020. Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon. https://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/156-pepper-and-salt-skipper. Last accessed 17 August 2020.
- Butterflies and Moths of North America. 2020. Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder, 1864) .https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Amblyscirtes-hegon. Last accessed 14 August 2020.
- Maryland Biodiversity Project. Pepper and Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder, 1864) https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/629. Last accessed 14 August 2020.
- Davis, L., and R. Smith. 2014. Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Checklist. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/butterfliesofmaryland_biological-summary_checklist.pdf
© 2020 Price Lab for Entomology, Courtney Rogall
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