Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

DELAWARE SKIPPER AND SWARTHY SKIPPER

Delaware Skipper sipping nectar from a wild bergamot flower. The angled black mark on its forewing is a distinctive feature. 

Swarthy Skippers are plain, unmarked brown butterflies, with numerous raised veins. 

This is a Swarthy Skipper with its wings spread. The wings are a dull brown color (but not as dark as a Dun Skipper).

Delaware Skippers have radiant golden-orange wings. This species has at least two broods in our area. They fly from early June through early September.

Swarthy Skippers fly from late May through September.

Female Delaware Skipper. Females are more heavily-marked than the males. 

Delaware Skippers are fairly common in prairies and meadows in our area. This species can be found at Cox Arboretum, Germantown MetroPark, Huffman Prairie, Sugarcreek MetroPark, the Beaver Creek Wetlands, and several other locations. 

Swarthy Skippers are found in prairies and meadows. Huffman Prairie is a particularly good place to look for them. They can also be found at several other locations, including Grant Park in Centerville, Sugarcreek MetroPark, Sweet Arrow Reserve, and Cox Arboretum.