Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Two-spotted Skipper (Euphyes bimacula)
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Overview
Species Overview
Two-spotted skipper (Euphyes bimacula ), a State Special Concern butterfly is found in sedge meadow, wet prairie, or marsh. Its host plants are grasses and sedges such as Carex trichocarpa and C. stricta. Adults fly in mid June through July, primarily early July in central Wisconsin. Overwinters as partially grown larvae.
Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin
The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Two-spotted Skipper (Euphyes bimacula). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.
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Detailed Information
Identification: The inner margin of the pale orange hindwing is white with pale, light veins and a distinctive white fringe on the lower hindwing especially along the anal margin. Uppersides are dark brown. The female has two light spots and the male has a dull, tawny patch enclosing two misaligned segments of the stigma. A folded-wing skipper that perches with closed wings and has antennae with hooked tips. The white veins on the unmarked hindwings are distinctive. Wingspan: 35-41 mm, Length of forewing: 15-18 mm. Larvae are greenish with a pale head marked with black and brown.
Similar Species: Crossline skipper (Polites origines).
Habitat: Sedge meadow, wet prairie, or marsh.
Nectar Source: Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), blue flag (Iris virginica), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and spiraea (Spiraea spp.).
Host Plant: Grasses and sedges such as Carex trichocarpa and C. stricta.
Associated Species: Dion skipper (Euphyes dion).
State Distribution: Documented records exist for 17 counties. Very localized. Less common in the south, although past records exist for the far southeastern counties.
Global Distribution: Atlantic Coast and northeastern U.S. New Brunswick, Quebec, southern Ontario to Nebraska and Colorado.
Threats: Loss of wetland habitat along with the invasion of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea).
Phenology: Adults fly in mid June through July, primarily early July in central Wisconsin.
Life History: Caterpillars eat leaves and live in nests of rolled or tied leaves. Overwinters as partially grown larvae. A remnant-dependent species (Panzer et al. 1995).
Survey Guidance: Tends to fly earlier in the season than Euphyes and Poanes species that are sometimes found in the same habitat. Males perch within 3 feet of the ground in sedge marshes to watch for females.
Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations.
Management Guidance: Unknown.
Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.
Photos
Click on a photo to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Endangered Resources Program for educational uses. See also information regarding use of photos
![Two-spotted Skipper [Photo #13454]](thumbnail_photos/euph_bima_001.jpg) |
Two-spotted Skipper, Wood County. Photo © Mike Reese. |
![Two-spotted Skipper [Photo #13455]](thumbnail_photos/euph_bima_002.jpg) |
Two-spotted Skipper, Wood County. Photo © Mike Reese. |
Related Links
Links to Additional Two-spotted Skipper Information
- WisconsinButterflies.org Species Profile [Exit DNR]
- Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) [Exit DNR]
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