Hesperia leonardus
Size:
Wingspan is 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches.
Similar Species:
Sachem (female)
Habitat:
Power line clearings, dirt roads along woodlands, and brushy fields. In
WV it can be found in wetter situations than further south.
Range/Abundance:
Uncommon to rare in the western
piedmont and mountains.
Flight Period:
Adults fly from late August until late October in a single brood. This
is one species that flies earlier in the north than in the south.
Larval Host Plants:
Grasses including Little Bluestem Andropogon scoparius and Blue
Grama Bouteloua gracilis
Comments:
Oddly when other skipper species are winding down, this rare skipper makes
its only appearance of the year near the end of butterflying season. This
species seems to like blue flowers over the normal yellow fall flowers.
The top and second photos were taken in the Green Bottoms Wildlife Management Area in Cabell Co., WV on August 27, 2002. The bottom photo was taken inside Raven Rock State Park in Harnett Co., NC on September 30, 2000.
