Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Dun Skipper
Euphyes vestris
Euphyes
vestris
A member of the family Hesperiidae (“Skippers”). Skippers derive their name from their rapid, darting flight patterns. Skippers are typically a small to medium sized butterfly with limited colour variation (usually orange, grey, brown or black with white patterning), though a few species have brighter iridescent colouration.
Wingspan: 2.3-2.7 cm. Skippers tend to have large, dark eyes relative to the size of the head, stout bodies and short antennae, often with hooked antennae “clubs” (tips). The probiscis (tubular feeding appendage), is long when uncurled. Males have a black, amber-haloed patch of pheromone producing scales (“stigma”) on the chocolate coloured fore wings. Females have small, white, inconspicuous spots on both the fore wing and upper side of the hind wing. The undersides of the hind wings have a pale purplish crescent. Males locate receptive females by perching on lower growing plants such as grasses and sedges. Eggs are laid singly on host plants and are pale green, globular and smooth when laid but change to a reddish colour before hatching. Early and late phase “instars” (developmental stage of larvae between molts) are soft green with numerous thin, white or light coloured horizontal lines running from the head to the rear feet. The head is white with dark vertical stripes. Larvae curl or bind leaves to create shelters while feeding as well as for sleeping and overwintering.
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Status
Global Status:
G5
Provincial Status:
S2S3
SARA Status:
Threatened
BC List Status:
Blue (Considered to be of Special Concern)
RESOURCES
For further information see:
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
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