Summary
Hesperia sassacus, the Indian skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.
Tags
garden pest
crop pest
pest
Taxonomy
The following subspecies are recognised: - Hesperia sassacus sassacus Harris, 1862 - Hesperia sassacus manitoboides (Fletcher, 1889) - Hesperia sassacus nantahala Gatrelle & Grkovich, 2003
Description
The wingspan is 25–30 mm. The flight period is late May to early July.
Distribution and habitat
It is found from northeastern U.S., and in Canada in southwestern New Brunswick and in a broad band from the Eastern Townships of Quebec through to southern Manitoba.
Ecology and behaviour
The larvae feed on nodding fescue (Festuca obtusa), poverty grass (Danthonia spicata), and panic grass (Panicum), Bouteloua, Andropogon, Aristida, and Poaceae species.