Dusted Skipper

Atrytonopsis hianna

Identification: Very small—FW > 0.6". Above: Male FW and HW dingy brown with small white spots in FW, including “bracelet.” Female similar but with a variable number of more-prominent spots. Below: Sexes similar. HW very dark brown with violet dusting on outer part when fresh and generally a single white basal dot; some individuals may lack spots. White "bracelet" visible on leading edge of FW. Note bright white "eyebrow" and palps. Similar skippers: Female Zabulon Skipper has white outline on outer rim of HW below. Clouded Skipper HW below lacks white spots and has 2 bands of violet frosting. Clouded is a rare late-summer immigrant to extreme southern NJ and so not present when Dusted is flying.

NJ Status and Distribution: Resident. Uncommon and local in the north; More widely distributed and found in larger numbers in the south.

Habitat: Open, dry areas. Attracted to flower gardens.

Flight Period: One spring brood from late-May to mid-June. Extreme dates: North Jersey 5/11—6/20; South Jersey 5/3—6/13.

Caterpillar Food Plants: Mainly bluestem grasses (Andropogon, Schizachyrium).

Overwintering Stage: Caterpillar.

Good Locations: Mountainside Park, Weldon Brook WMA, Ramapo Mountain SF, Delaware Water Gap NRA (Flatbrookville), Double Trouble SP, Burden Hill Preserve, Fries Mill Rd. powerline.

Comments: Has apparently disappeared from many sites. No recent records across the central part of the state.

Male, Mountainside Park, Morris Co., NJ, 5/27/21.

Female, Mounts Mills, Middlesex Co., NJ, 5/29/10.

Wildcat Ridge WMA, Morris Co., NJ, 5/11/12.

Wildcat Ridge WMA, Morris Co., NJ, 5/12/12.