Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis)
Despite the name, this tiny butterfly is close to the least common of the roadside-skippers in North Carolina (the similar Dusky Roadside Skipper probably takes that honor). When fresh, Common Roadside-Skipper is a dapper black-brown with a white triangle on the leading edge of the forewing and frosting towards the rear of both fore- and hindwings. The pattern is reminiscent of that of the much larger Dusted Skipper. Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012. | |
Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012. | |
Union Co., SC 4/26/2016. | |
With a couple of weeks of wear, Common Roadside-Skippers are a drab mottled dark brown with just the white triangle left. This worn individual is likely a male, since it was hilltopping. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10. | |
Same individual. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10. | |
An even more worn individual. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10. |