Click below to reveal the answer to this weeks’ quiz.
The butterfly on the right is the Delaware Skipper. The butterfly on the left is the similar looking Least Skipper.
There are at least two characteristics that can help you differentiate between the two species: antennae and body color. If you get out your magnifying glass or zoom in close to the antennae in the two pictures you will see that the Delaware Skipper has a faint, orange colored hook extending from the end of the black club on their antennae. The antennae of the Least Skipper do not have this hook, ending only in a black club with an orange spot. The stalk of the antennae is also orange and black in the Delaware Skipper and white and black in the Least Skipper.
The body color of the Delaware Skipper is more uniformly orange/yellow. The Least Skipper has a bright white thorax that makes a strong contrast with the rest of their body and wing color.
Least Skipper by Ken Kenidel (iNaturalist)
Delaware Skipper by Kent McFarland (iNaturalist)
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