Skippers

In my listing of NYC butterflies, I noted that the skippers are hard to identify. These little butterflies in the Hesperiidae family are mostly small, orangish to tawny brown, and have a tendency to look like jet planes when perched.This male Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)–identification tentative–assumes the position: hindwings and forewings are separately opened at different distances from the body.Here’s a Pecks Skipper (Polites peckius), I believe.Peck’s with wings open?Not sure of this one. You’d think the plain one would be easy, right? Tawny-edged, European, Least?The Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), on the other wing, is distinctive. That “silver” spot always looks white in the field. This was bright bright day.

Anyway, this is the month for these critters. They are flitting and skipping all over now, but especially on nectar-rich flowers. Look for them!A female Sachem (Atalopedes campestris).