Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)

Quite variable in both size and appearance, Broad-winged Skippers are usually large and can be quite common in some coastal areas in NC. Authors who state this species is a weak flyer have never seen them zip around the areas near Phragmites in NC, where it can fly strong and fast! That said, there are times when they do fly lazily through tall marsh grasses. Broadwings have two broods in NC and fly from late Spring into Fall.


Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Eagle Nest Lake Unit, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria Co., TX
25 Mar 2018

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Eagle Nest Lake Unit, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria Co., TX
25 Mar 2018

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brazos Bend S.P., Brazoria Co., TX
25 Mar 2018
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Eagle Nest Lake, Brazoria Co., TX
24 Apr 2018

Images rotated
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Eagle Nest Lake, Brazoria Co., TX
24 Apr 2018
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Eagle Nest Lake, Brazoria Co., TX
24 Apr 2018

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Lanark Co., Ottawa
13 July 2018
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Prescott-Russell Co., Ottawa
16 July 2018


Mid-atlantic (NC/VA) Broad-winged Skippers
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023

Same individual with different lighting. Both shot with natural light and no flash.


Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023

Different angles of same individual


Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023


Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Bodie Island, Dare Co., NC
4 Sep 2023

The next 6 photos represent the first documented Broad-winged Skipper colony from the NC piedmont, discovered by Parker Backstrom, Harry LeGrand, and myself near a large stand of Southern Wild Rice (Zizaniopsis miliacea) along the upper Cape Fear River.


Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Chatham Co., NC
26 September 2004
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Chatham Co., NC
26 September 2004

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Chatham Co., NC
26 September 2004

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Male
Chatham Co., NC
17 Sep 2005

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Male
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Female
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004

Broad-winged Skipper Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
28 May 2003
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004

Broad-winged Skipper Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) This poor individual seems to have its forewing out of position and stuck outside its hindwing.
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
28 May 2003
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Dare Co., NC
16 Sep 2006
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator), Male
Dare Co., NC
16 Sep 2006

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Chatham Co., NC
24 Sep 2005
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Tyrrell Co., NC
1 June 2007

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC
2 Oct 2005

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) This Broad-winged is nectaring on the dreaded exotic invasive Chinese Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum). (Thanks to Harry LeGrand for confirming the tree ID!)


New York Broad-winged Skippers
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
York Co., VA
20 Aug 2013
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
York Co., VA
20 Aug 2013

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
York Co., VA
27 Aug 2013
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Dutchess Co., NY
4 Aug 2008


Michigan Broad-winged Skippers
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012

Check out the little, flower-colored inchworm investigating the butterfly!


2012
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) A lone Mulberry Wing ((Poanes massasoit) shares some Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) with a pile of Broad-winged Skippers (Poanes viator)
St. Clair Co., MI
7 July 2012


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Created on ... June 26, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com