This is a very common species in North Carolina.
Genomics studies published in Zhang et al. (2022) determined that the subspecies of Sachem in the eastern US should be elevated to species level (Atalopedes huron) and that the subspecies in the northwestern US is the true Atalopedes campestris. It will take some time for new field guides and others to accept and adopt this change. Assuming widespread acceptance, the English name for "our" Sachem here in the eastern US may become "Eastern Sachem" or "Huron Sachem." |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), male Edge of field & woods in Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC 11 Aug 2008 Males and females show different patterns and can have many different looks depending on the amount of scale wear on the individual. Males: Below, note dull blotchy orange with a dark squarish block at middle of the bottom edge of the underwing. Above, note the large square black patch. |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Orange Co., NC 24 Sep 2004 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Orange Co., NC 5 May 2004 |
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Females: Below, note variable chevron-shaped series of light marks on mustard-orange-brown ground color. Above, note large pale spots with concave outer edges. |
| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Duke Gardens Durham Co., NC 18 June 2003 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Korstian Division of Duke Forest Orange Co., NC 5 May 2004 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Orange Co., NC 14 Aug 2011 Bright males lacking dark smudges are often confused with Delaware Skippers. See images below as well. |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Orange Co., NC 21 Aug 2004 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Orange Co., NC 16 July 2004 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Caswell Co., NC 4 May 2006 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Orange Co., NC 1 May 2006 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham, NC 9 Sep 2005 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Avery Co., NC 26 July 2006 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2006 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham Co., NC 30 Sep 2007 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham Co., NC 17 Oct 2007 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Female Durham Co., NC 10 Aug 2008 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron), Male Orange Co., NC 11 Aug 2008 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Fresh brightly colored males may be confused with Delaware Skippers. Orange Co., NC 14 Aug 2011 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Rowan Co., NC 22 Sep 2012 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 5 July 2013 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Clay Co., NC 20 May 2007 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Sandhills Game Lands, Scotland Co., NC 4 Aug 2016 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Blue Ridge Pkwy, Alleghany Co., NC 24 Aug 2016 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 22 Oct 2017 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Big Cypress, Collier Co., FL 4 Mar 2017 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Duke Forest Durham Division, Durham Co., NC 14 Sep 2019 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Quail Roost, Durham Co., NC 19 Aug 2019 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC 2 Oct 2018 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Quail Roost, Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2017 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Duke Forest Durham Division, Orange Co., NC 21 Sep 2019 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Hillsborough, Orange Co., NC 16 Aug 2018 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
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Sachems (Atalopedes campestris huron) Riverbend Park, Catawba Co., NC 4 Aug 2012 Lower left individual is the male; upper right is the female |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 3 Sep 2010 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Alamance Co., NC 5 Sep 2020 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC 18 Aug 2022 |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Cate's Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC 6 Sep 2023 Nectaring on Verbesina |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Alamance Co., NC 6 Sep 2023 Nectaring on Zinnia |
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| Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Alamance Co., NC 6 Sep 2023 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Alamance Co., NC 6 Sep 2023 Nectaring on marigold |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Hocking Hills, Logan Co., OH 2 Oct 2020 |
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Male Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006 This fresh male Sachem is unusually lightly marked. |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
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Sachem (Atalopedes campestris huron) Durham Co., NC 9 Oct 2004 Male (right) "sneaking up on" Female (left) |
Created on ... July 17, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com