CLOSED: Moth ID, please or is it a brown butterfly.

TheHackster Columbus, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 19, 2012

Not very large, fluttering all around, but when it landed, it stayed for a long time. Landed on grass debris, didn't see it visit a flower.

Any one know what it is?

Thanks,
Hack

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 19, 2012

It's skipper (family Hesperiidae) - could be one of the cloudywings...

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TheHackster Columbus, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 19, 2012

Thanks, Flapdoodle;

Mine sure does look like a Cloudywing Skipper (not a moth). I saw Northern and a Southern versions.

The ones I researched look like mine, but none had the same pattern of white marks on their wings - I'm speaking of the 4 marks all in a row, with the second one down looking like is was inserted side-ways between #1 and #3.

Do you know if there is any significance to the pattern/number of white marks on their wings?

http://www.google.com/search?q=cloudywing+skipper+images&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ktExUMD8IZTY9ASQl4DoDw&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=642

Hack

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 20, 2012

IMHO, the relative positions of the spots would appear to be more important than any differences in the sizes of the spots.

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TheHackster Columbus, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 21, 2012

Thanks, that's what I was thinking - position.

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C_A_Ivy Barling, AR(Zone 7b) Jan 02, 2013

A Duskywing skipper. For your area, three are likely. Juvenal's, Zarrucco,or Horace's. Based upon the time of year and wing patterns, this butterfly appears to be a male Horace's duskywing.

Attached pic for reference, note extra spot on forewing indicates female.