Pest Profile Photo credit: (larva) Seth Ausubel, Bugguide.net; (adult) Karolina Stutzman, Bugguide.net Common Name: Silver-spotted Skipper Scientific Name: Epargyreus clarus Order and Family: Lepidoptera; Hesperiidae Size and Appearance: Length (mm) Appearance Egg Larva 50 mm -The head is reddish brown with large yellow eye patches. -The prothoracic shield is brown. -Abdomen is yellow with darker transverse stripes and spots. -Prolegs are bright orange. Adult Wingspan 70 to 85 mm -Upper-side of the wings is brown with a median row of yellowish-gold spots on the forewing that is also visible from beneath. -The wing fringe is dashed with white. -The underside of the wings is brown with a large median irregular-shaped white patch on each wing and a short-rounded tail. Pupa Type of feeder: Chewing Host plants: The larvae feed on leaves of herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees in the pea family (Fabaceae) including false indigo bush, American hog peanut, butterfly pea, groundnut, honey locust, American wisteria and the introduced dixie ticktrefoil, kudzu, black locust, Chinese wisteria and a variety of other legumes. Damage to alfalfa and soybeans had also been reported. Description of Damage: Larvae make shelters by cutting, folding, and attaching end of leaves with silk. Larger larvae can silk multiples leaves together. Larvae leave shelter to feed, causing leaf damage and defoliation. This insect is not of economic importance. References: Cranshaw, W. (2004). Garden Insects of North America: The ultimate guide to backyard bugs. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Epargyreus clarus. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2016, from Butterflies and Moths of North America: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Epargyreus-clarus Hall, D. W. (2011, June). Silver-spotted Skipper. Retrieved January 24, 2016, from University of Florida: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/silver-spotted_skipper.htm .