The Broad-winged Skipper is larger than most grass skippers, with broad, rounded wings. The hindwing undersides are dull orange-brown with discrete rectangular patches of orange. One long orange patch on this wing extends from the wing base and is crossed by another short orange patch, giving the appearance of a cross. On the upper (dorsal) surface, male forewings are dark with segmented orange patches. On the female dorsal forewing, the patches are smaller and are creamy white rather than orange.

 

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Broad-winged Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 2 1/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Freshwater and saltwater marshes

 

Broad-winged Skipper Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Common Reed
• Giant Cut Grass
• Hairy Sedge
• Northwest Territory Sedge
• Shoreline Sedge

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers
  • Swamp Milkweed
  • Dogbane
  • Blue Vervain
  • Thistles
  • Fleabane
  • Buttonbush
  • Red Clover
  • Fogfruit
  • Pickerelweed