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Wisconsin Native Caterpillars

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) caterpillar

Silver-Spotted Skipper Caterpillar

Genus-Species: Epargyreus clarus

Description: The caterpillar is very distinctive by having a “wrinkled” yellow-green body with a brown head that bears a pair of false orange eyespots.

Host Plants: Black Locust.

Habitat: A wide variety of habitats including old fields, woodland edges, and gardens. It is fond of nectar and can be seen nectaring on a variety of flowers.

Comments: The Silver-Spotted Skipper is one of the more common skippers in the southern two-thirds of the state. In Wisconsin wherever its main host plant, Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is found, this species is likely to be present. This tree is an invasive alien and once it is established, it forms large colonies.

Adult Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly Profile
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