Insect · GBIF taxon 1942947
Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestrisAlso known as Dun Sedge Skipper, Sedge Skipper, Metacomet Skipper
Dun skippers are dark, brownish-black butterflies named for their plain, unadorned appearance. Males sport a narrow, dark scent patch on their forewings, while females display small translucent spots. Adults dart rapidly between nectar plants in damp fields, roadside ditches, and wetland edges, where their caterpillars feed on sedges.
Fast FlierSedge FeederBrown
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sedge leaves
- Vetch nectar
- Milkweed nectar
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Dragonflies
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, pesticide application
HabitatsWetlands, damp meadows, marshes, open woodlands
Life span1 year (adults live 2 to 3 weeks)
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyHesperiidae
- GenusEuphyes
- SpeciesEuphyes vestris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Look for adults feeding on nectar flowers during warm midday sun in mid-summer.
- Habitat cues: Search near sedge patches around damp fields, stream edges, and wetland margins.
- Approach gently: Move slowly toward perched butterflies to observe wing patterns without startling them.
Image unavailableLook-alike 
Look-alike Charles T. and John R. Bryson, , Bugwood.org / CC BY 3.0 us · cc-byClose Relative Close Relative
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Mystic Meadows
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