Autochton cellus
Size:
Wingspan is 1 3/8 - 2 inches.
Similar Species:
Silver-spotted Skipper
Hoary Edge
Habitat:
Rich open bottomlands near creeks and streams, openings along creeks and
dirt roads in moist woods.
Range/Abundance:
Very rare in the mountains and extremely
rare in the piedmont.
Flight Period:
Adults fly from late April until late July in two broods with a gap between
broods.
Larval Host Plants:
Hog Peanut Amphicarpa bracteata
Comments:
These skippers fly really fast and dart about very quickly. The one I
found in NC fooled me for a second thinking it was a Red Admiral in flight.
In the east Golden-banded Skipper is considered mythical, it’s so
rare!
The top and third photos were taken in Caswell Co., NC on June 04, 2000. The second photo was taken in the Huachuca Mountains at Ramsey Canyon in Cochise Co., AZ on August 26, 2004. The bottom photo was taken at Wildwood Nature Park in Radford, VA on July 02, 2002.
