Silver-spotted Skipper

Host plants

Silver-spotted Skipper caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).

• White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba)
• Robinia pseudoacacia — see Clammy Locust (same genus)
• Three-thorn-acacia (Gleditsia triacanthos)
• Texas Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
• Bastard Indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa)
• Panicled False Indigo (Amorpha paniculata)
• Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
• Judastree (Cercis canadensis)

How to identify it

Look for the large, bright silver-white patch on the underwing which is distinctive and visible even when the butterfly is at rest.

Good to know

• Males establish territories by perching on prominent leaves and defending them from other insects
• Larvae create leaf shelters by silk-webbing host plant leaves together
• One of the largest skippers in North America

Common questions

What do Silver-spotted Skipper caterpillars eat?

Silver-spotted Skipper caterpillars feed on Baptisia alba, Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditsia triacanthos, Wisteria frutescens, Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha paniculata, Cercis occidentalis, and Cercis canadensis. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.

Where do Silver-spotted Skipper live?

Silver-spotted Skipper is found across WI, AL, AR, AZ and 44 more states.

When are Silver-spotted Skipper active?

Adult Silver-spotted Skipper are typically on the wing from June through September.