Tawny-edged Skipper - Polites themistocles

Habitat

The tawny-edged skipper is found in a wide variety of habitats. In the east, it is found in grassy areas like meadows, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and forest clearings. In other parts of the U.S., it is found in grassy valleys, mountain meadows, and prairies.

Diet

The tawny-edged skipper caterpillar eats grasses like slender crabgrass and bluegrass. The adult eats nectar from plants like red clover, dogbane, purple coneflower, thistles, alfalfa, and chicory

Life Cycle

The male tawny-edged skipper perches in grassy areas and waits for a female. The female lays one egg at a time on the leaves of a host plant. The tawny-edged skipper produces one to two broods a year. The caterpillar is brown and has a black head with white spots and streaks.