Dukes' Skipper Euphyes dukesi

A large rounded skipper with a very slow flight. Flutters like a large chocolaty Least Skipper. Virtually unmarked dark brown inside with the rich copper orange exterior. Fresh individuals show two rays of lighter color on the hindwing. Closely colonial in places which makes them occasionally abundant. But mostly found in ones and twos in the right wet habitat. Almost all wet areas will do, from swamps to roadside wet ditches with the various sedges (Carex) that serve for the caterpillar foodplant.

Pristine inner chocolate and red-browns of the open Dukes'. This is the male. The female usually has at least two light spots inside the forewing surface.

Hatch in September 2011 on the property. Open shot showing the inner hindwing pattern.

Another side shot from the Round Mountain hatch, this time in 2007.

And a 2011 Dukes interior as well.

And with some work I now have a larger stand of thistle with the active 2011 Dukes in September as well.