The secret life of ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis).

peck's skipper, Polites peckius

Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius)

Bug of the Day - Bonus!

I fell a little behind on Pollinator Week, so here’s a bonus BotD.

Chives are actually a decent early spring source of sustenance for pollinators. Here’s a Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) dining on chive flowers. Chives are not native where I live, but the plants I have are well-behaved and stay in their containers :-).

Skipper Week

Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius)

July 30, 2016

Southeastern Pennsylvania

Peck’s Skipper

This Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) found our Salvia yesterday. It is rewarding to know that my modest gardening efforts are helping other species to prosper. My payoff is witnessing the event.

Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius) - 5/13/2021

Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius) in my backyard this month. This beautiful species prefers open grassy spaces, I've seen it a few times in my own backyard. Peck's Skipper is named after William Dandridge Peck, one of the earliest American Entomologists. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #pecksskipper #polites #politespeckius #hesperiidaebutterfly #skipperbutterflyphotography #macrobutterfly #macrocaptures #macrophotography #insects_of_our_world #insectlove #backyardbugs #backyard #gardenbug #norfolkwild #blognorfolk (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQf4h8iA7mw/?utm_medium=tumblr

I followed three very small and fast skippers around my yard to get these photos. They all turn out to be the same species, Polites peckius. I wonder if my decision to mow less and mow later helped populate my yard--their larvae live in refugia on folded grass leaves. 

Here’s a lovely Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) to brighten your day. The larvae of this species feed on various grasses. According to Wisconsin Butterflies you’re more likely to see this one in urban areas than other skippers. This one was spotted on this bright Liatrus flower on a late July day in the Arboretum near a wet prairie.

Peck’s Skipper butterfly, Polites peckius.

Polites peckius, the Peck's skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). This skipper ranges across Canada from British Columbia, as far north as Cartwright, Labrador; Moar Lake, Ontario; Leaf Rapids, Manitoba; and the Hay River area in Alberta. In the US, it ranges in most of the northern and central states, except on the west coast. (at Arlington, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUKkT5-r-amZ-d8E-kGpPzXYodzBTWruuVtj9w0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Peck's Skipper ~ Polites peckius ~ Hespérie de Peck ~ at the Lake Mohawk Dam in Sparta , New Jersey. #Peck'sSkipper #Skipper #Polites #Politespeckius #Hespérie #HespériedePeck #LakeMohawk #Dam #Sparta #NJ #NewJersey #Butterflies #Papillon #Entomology #Ventral #dorsal #macros #macrophotography #macroofinstagram #butterflies #insects #insectsofinstagram #Wildlife #wildlifephotography ~ https://www.flickr.com/photos/rachidh/albums (at Sparta, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDw9bQJg4hz/?igshid=z6kagzp6u5aw

Today our Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) was visited by a Peck’s skipper butterfly (Polites peckius). We plant natives to help all different types of pollinators find a home, fill their bellies and rest on their long journeys! #choosenativeplants #prairieblazingstar #pecksskipper (at Tinley Park, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Z41K8BsFAnT-4sC59ZUQKqJwG5oSg24QYLzY0/?igshid=15pxlo6q1uxh

Peck’s Skipper Butterfly

Polites peckius

Month: August

A Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) joined the crowd of insects at our sedum yesterday.