Broad-winged Skipper Poanes viator

An interesting marsh skipper. Glassberg does not show it in Arkansas. The USGS map shows it in the southeast corner. Norm Lavers has discovered a large local breeding population in the Phragmites stands around Big Lake in the northeast corner of the state and that is where this picture was taken. Apparently the previously coastal population is following Phragmites stands away from the coast. There is a second population already around Phragmites in the Great Lakes region. This one is nectaring on this fine Sagittaria bloom. In fact I just waited next to this flower and the skippers came to it. Note the light golden band in the hindwing. It usually shows two smaller marks forming a sort of anchor shape. Inside there are some rich orange markings. Can be confused with the Dukes' Skipper which is also banded but Dukes' has no interior orange and it is darker and has a rounder wing profile.