So rare in North Carolina most butterfly seekers regard it as mythical, Golden Banded-Skipper is one of our most striking spread-wing skippers. The host plant is reported to be American Hogpeanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), which is common in most of the state, unlike the butterfly, which is very rare in the Mountains and extremely rare in the Piedmont.

From above, you could mistake a Silver-spotted Skipper or Hoary Edge with Golden-banded, but the golden band is continuous in Golden-banded, not broken.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

The underside of the hindwing lacks the white spotting or frosting of the confusion species.

These three photos are all of the same individual. An indication of how rare this butterfly is, the record high single-day count in the state is just one individual!

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.

Perched above a Monarch caterpillar.

Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.