Two-spotted Skipper (Euphyes bimacula)

Description: A medium sized dark brown skipper. On the upperside males have a long, narrow, diagonal black line across a large orange patch on the forewing. Females are much darker above, usually with a series of pale yellow spots near the apex of the forewing. The underside in both sexes is uniform brown with paler veins. Two-spotted Skipper can be separated from other skippers at a glance by the distinct, bright white line along the inner margin of the hindwing beneath. Wingspan: 25 to 30 mm.

Maritime Distribution: Widespread in New Brunswick southeast to at least Moncton. For Atlas results click here.

Provincial Ranks: NB: S3. NS: SU. PEI: -.

Flight Period: Mid June to mid July.

Host Plant: Known to feed on the sedge Carex trichocarpa (Scott, 1986). This sedge is has not been recorded from the Maritimes, and as such it presumably feeds on other sedges in this region.

Notes: Two-spotted Skipper is typically associated with moist sedge patches. Although widespread, it is rare, usually occurring as an individual or a pair in a small wetland or near the wet edges of larger bogs, streams and marshes. It avidly visits flowers growing near its habitat.

The name Two-spotted Skipper seems inappropriate as the females have many more than two spots and the males none. The French name, Hespérie des marais (meaning “marsh skipper”), is much more suitable.