Butterflies of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Common Name: Scientific Name:
Common Name begins with:
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Scientific Name begins with:
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Number of records: 250,954
Related Species in HESPERIIDAE:
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Common NameSilver-spotted Skipper by Paul Hart => Raven Rock State Park, 2006-07-15
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Scientific NameEpargyreus clarus
Link to BAMONA species account.
MapClick on a county for list of all database records for the species in that county.
Flight Chart
Common NameSilver-spotted Skipper
Scientific NameEpargyreus clarus
DistributionDISTRIBUTION: Statewide; occurs in every county in the state.
AbundanceABUNDANCE: Common to abundant; one of the most often encountered skippers anywhere in NC, from the high Mountains to the coast. It is often abundant in the Mountains, and is least common in the eastern counties, but it is certainly common in the latter region.
FlightFLIGHT PERIOD: Two, to probably three, broods; however, downstate it is continuously on the wing from mid-March to late October, and sparingly into mid-November. The first flight in the Mountains begins in late March or early April.
HabitatHABITAT: Extremely widespread, in nearly all "skipper" habitats, except for salt marshes. Found along woodland borders, clearings, old fields, savannas, coastal scrub, high mountain rocky areas, gardens, etc. It is quite common at sunlit spots and at wet spots along dirt roads through hardwood forests, especially in the Mountains.
PlantsFOOD AND NECTAR PLANTS: The foodplants are legumes (Fabaceae) -- favoring woody species or larger herbaceous species -- such as locusts (Robinia spp.), sennas (Senna spp.), wisterias (Wisteria spp.), etc. The species nectars on a very wide variety of flowers, including butterfly-bushes (Buddleja spp.) in gardens. It often perches on damp ground to sip moisture.
CommentsCOMMENTS: Along with the Pearl Crescent, this is probably the most widespread butterfly in the state, in terms of range from mountaintop to shore and in choice of habitats. It is one of the few NC skippers, along with the Long-tailed, that can be identified in flight at great distances, because of the conspicuous large white (not silver!) under wing patch.
State Status (first) and Rank (second)none - S5
Federal Status (first) and Global Rank (second)none - G5
Synonym
Other Name
Links to other butterfly galleries: [Cook] [Lynch] [Pippen] [Pugh]
Photo Gallery for Silver-spotted Skipper
Photo by: Floyd Williams
Comment: Gates Co., Merchants Millpond State Park, Caterpillar in shelter of rolled hickory leaf. 2005-Sep-13
Silver-spotted Skipper - Click to enlarge 		Photo by: Roger Rittmaster
Comment: Durham Co.
Silver-spotted Skipper - Click to enlarge
Photo by: M. McCloy
Comment: Moore Co., Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature-Preserve; 2006-Sep-09
Silver-spotted Skipper - Click to enlarge 		Photo by: David L. Heavner
Comment: 16 July 2019. Buncombe County
Silver-spotted Skipper - Click to enlarge
Photo by: W. Cook
Comment: Clay Co.; 21-May-2005
Silver-spotted Skipper - Click to enlarge