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Species
Spotlight

Giant Silk
Moth Survey

TWO-SPOTTED SKIPPER (Euphyes bimacula)

Identification
Male is dark brown above with a small reddish-orange patch on the forewing. Female is also dark brown above with 2-3 pale spots on the forewing. In both sexes, the forewing is pointed and the underside of the head and body are white. The underside of the hindwing is orange-brown with pale veins and white fringes (especially when fresh).

Massachusetts Butterfly Club photographs

Kaufman's Butterflies of North America, page 332
Glassberg's Butterflies Through Binoculars, plate 66

Habitat in Vermont
Bogs and sedge wetlands

Host Plant
Sedges, especially Hairy-fruited sedge (Carex trichocarpa) and Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta).

Adult Food Preferences
Nectar from Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), Blue Flag (Iris sp.), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and Spiraea (Spiraea sp.).

U.S. Distribution

VBS Distribution

VBS Flight Period



Notes
Here’s another get-your-feet-wet skipper. We’re finding it in spruce bogs and sedge wetlands. In bogs, other yellowish grass skippers aren’t exactly common, so this species should be on your radar during its flight season. If you see what you think is a European Skipper in a bog, take a closer look. A key for quick identification is the white stripe alongthe hindwing trailing margin, seen from below along the length of the body. It also shows faint white veins. It doesn’t seem to be abundant when found.

Other Atlases
Connecticut (no records)
Massachusetts
U.S.A.
Canada