Polites peckius

Peck's skippers are found in the Nearctic range, and extend from Nova Scotia to British Columbia in southern Canada. Their range extends southward from northern Oregon, southern Colorado, northwest Arkansas, to northern Georgia. They are rare in the south. (Klots, 1951; Scott, 1986)

These grassland skippers prefer open areas with ample nectar sources, such as meadows, powerline right-of-ways, prairies, parks and vacant lots. (Glassberg, 1999; Scott, 1986; Shapiro, 1966; Struttman, )

Peck's skippers are also known as yellow patch skippers because of the light colored post median spot bands on the underside of the forewings. The central spot is elongated and extends out toward the wing margin. Males have a dark black stigma on the upper surface of the forewing that separates the orange margin from the darker portion of the wing. These are small skippers, with the forewing lengths of females averaging 1.3 cm (1.2-1.4 cm). Males are slightly smaller with forewing lengths of 1.2 cm (1.1-1.3 cm). (Glassberg, 1999; Opler and Krizek, 1984)

Larvae are deep maroon colored with light brown mottling. The head is black with two white vertical streaks on the upper front and two white patches below. (Klots, 1951)

The eggs of Peck's skippers are cream colored and develop reddish mottling in irregular patterns. (Scott, 1986)

The chrysalis is reddish purple with white wing cases. (Scott, 1986)

Peck's skippers have the ability to transform straight to the adult form of the next brood or slow down their growth and hibernate as 3rd, 4th, or 5th stage larvae. They are also reported to hibernate as pupae. (Klots, 1951; Scott, 1986)

Male Peck's skippers perch on low vegetation in sunny areas to await females. Courtship activities occur throughout the day. Mated pairs are observed mainly in the afternoon. (Opler and Krizek, 1984; Scott, 1986)

Peck's skippers have two broods in the north and three in the southern portion of their range. Females lay their eggs singly on appropriate substrate. (Scott, 1986)

There is no parental care provided by butterflies.

Peck's skippers have rapid flight and tend to stay close to the ground. They are often seen perching on grasses and sometimes exposed soil. Larvae live in leaf nests. (Iftner, et al., 1992)

Butterflies generally communicate through visual or pheremone recognition, or by tactile methods during courthship.

The larvae feed primarilly on rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) and bluegrass (Poa pratensis), although other grasses are probably used. (Glassberg, 1999; Scott, 1986)

Adults have been recorded nectaring on clover (Trifolium spp.), alfalfa (Medcago sativa), winter cress (Bararea vulgaris), joe-pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), teasel (Dipsacus sylvestis), thistle (Cirsium spp.), purple coneflower (Echinacae purpurea), ironweed (Vernonia spp.), and blazing star (Liatris spicata). They have also been seen sipping from mud and moist soil. (Glassberg, 1999; Iftner, et al., 1992; Shapiro, 1966)

Predators of all life stages of butterflies include a variety of insect parasatoids. These wasps or flies will consume the body fluids first, and then eat the internal organs, ultimately killing the butterfly. Those wasps that lay eggs inside the host body include species in many different groups: Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Scelionidae, Trichogrammatidae, and others. Trichogrammatids live inside the eggs, and are smaller than a pinhead. Certain flies (Tachinidae, some Sarcophagidae, etc.) produce large eggs and glue them onto the outside of the host larva, where the hatching fly larvae then burrow into the butterfly larvae. Other flies will lays many small eggs directly on the larval hostplants, and these are ingested by the caterpillars as they feed. (Reese, 2003; Scott, 1986)

Most predators of butterflies are other insects. Praying mantis, lacewings, ladybird beetles, assasin bugs, carabid beetles, spiders, ants, and wasps (Vespidae, Pompilidae, and others) prey upon the larvae. Adult butterflies are eaten by robber flies, ambush bugs, spiders, dragonflies, ants, wasps (Vespidae and Sphecidae), and tiger beetles. The sundew plant is known to catch some butterflies. (Scott, 1986)

There are also many vertebrate predators including lizards, frogs, toads, birds, mice, and other rodents. (Scott, 1986)

Peck's skippers serve as minor pollinators and as prey for a variety of predators.

Peck's skippers provide enjoyment to butterfly watchers and thus provide economic benefits in the form of ecotourism.

There are no known adverse affects of Peck's skippers on humans.

Peck's skippers appear to be secure across their range and are not of conservation concern at this time.

Peck's skippers are also known as yellow patch skippers, yellow spotted skippers, and yellow spots. Previous scientific names include Polites coras, Papilio cora, Hesperia peckius, and Hesperia wamsutta. (Miller, 1992; Miller and Brown, 1981)