Aaron's Skipper (Poanes aaroni [Skinner])
Wing span: 1 5/16 - 1 11/16 inches (3.3 - 4.3 cm).
Identification: Upperside is bright orange with wide black borders; male has a faint narrow stigma on the forewing. Underside of hindwing is orange-tan with a pale streak in the center from the base to the outer margin.
Life history: Not reported.
Flight: Two broods from May-September in the north; probably several broods from April-October in Florida.
Caterpillar hosts: Possibly smooth cordgrass (Spartina alternifolia var. glabra).
Adult food: Nectar from flowers including pickerelweed, salt marsh fleabane, and coreopsis.
Habitat: Coastal salt marshes.
Range: Patchy distribution along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey south to south peninsular Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: None reported.
References:
Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates. Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates. Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Gerberg, E.J. and Arnett, R.H., Jr. Florida Butterflies. Natural Science Publications, Inc. Baltimore, MD. 90 pp. Kimball, C.P. 1965. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas - Vol. 1: Lepidoptera of Florida. Div. of Plant Industry, State of Florida Dept. of Agriculture. Gainesville, FL. 363 pp. Minno, M.C. and Emmel, T.C. 1993. Butterflies of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers. Gainesville, FL. 168 pp. Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. Smith, D.S., Miller, L.D. and Miller, J.Y. 1994. The Butterflies of the West Indies and South Florida. Oxford Univ. Press. Oxford, U.K. 264 pp.