New Jersey Butterfly Club

Pepper and Salt Skipper

Amblyscirtes hegon

Identification: Tiny—FW < 0.5". Sexes similar. Above: FW and HW very dark with pale overscaling toward FW base and a white "bracelet" and a row of small white spots crossing the FW. Below: FW and HW dark, with extensive pale overscaling producing a grayish “pepper and salt” appearance. White spotband and small inner white spots on HW usually obvious. FW pattern mirrors upperside. Black-and-white checkered fringes along trailing edges of both wings. Similar skippers: Common Roadside-Skipper is darker below, with the only obvious marking a white triangle on leading edge of FW.

NJ Status and Distribution: Resident. Rare and very local in northwestern NJ. Recently reported from Sussex, Warren, and Hunterdon counties.

Habitat: Open areas, usually near wetlands. Unreported from gardens probably because of overall rarity.

Flight Period: One spring brood from late May to mid-June. Extreme dates: 5/18—6/21.

Caterpillar Food Plants: Many upland and wetland grasses.

Overwintering Stage: Caterpillar.

Good Locations: High Point SP (nectars on Wild Geranium flowers along Sawmill Road), Voorhees SP, Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Comments: Can easily be overlooked because of its small size, inconspicuous coloration, and low, weak flight.