Identifying Skippers
Earlier this month we posted the results of a butterfly census conducted at our Waterloo Mills Preserve in Devon.
Last week, while conducting another less formal count of butterflies at the Preserve, we were able to photograph several species of skippers. From Butterflies Through Binolculars by Jeffrey Glassberg: "Skippers are generally distinguished from true butterflies by their relatively large bodies (compared to their wings), their relatively small, very angular wings, and by the presence of a thin extension (the apiculus) of the antennae. There are two subfamilies of skippers in our area. The spread-winged skippers are generally large; when they alight, they hold their wings open flat. In contrast, the folded-wing skippers either alight with wings completely closed (often) or with the hindwings more or less completely open but with the forewings partially opened, forming a V."
It can be extremely challenging to identify species of skippers. Patience and a good field guide are necessities. Here are photos of three skippers, all folded-wing species common in backyard gardens, taken last week at Waterloo Mills by our friend and talented photographer Holly Merker.
