Special Segments Butterflies of North America Conifers of North America Eastern Birds List of N.A. Insects Home Eastern Wildflowers

General Topics Natural History Ecology Family Environment Evolution Home Education Home Conservation Geophysics Paleontology Organizations

No Photographs Available

Carus Skipper (Polites carus [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).

Identification: Fringes are pale but not white. Upperside is brownish orange. Forewing has white or yellowish spots which are larger in the female; male forewing has a narrow black stigma. Underside is light brown with paler veins.

Life history: Adults have a low, rapid flight. To await females, males perch in the afternoon on flat bare ground near grasses.

Flight: Several broods from March-September (three broods along the Arizona-Mexico border).

Caterpillar hosts: Probably a variety of grasses (Poaceae).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including milkweed (Asclepias) and Cnidoscolus.

Habitat: Grassy areas in deserts and oak-pinyon woodland, and along washes and small streams.

Range: Uncommon in three separate populations: Southern California; southern Arizona east to southwest Texas; Mexico.