Out of the more than 3500 species of skipper butterflies worldwide, there is only one that I can reliably identify, the Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus). I remember when I first started taking nature photos that I mistaken believed that all of the little, mostly brown butterflies were moths. Somehow I had done a kind of color sorting in my mind and had reserved the name “butterfly” exclusively for the large, colorful species.
As I look back, I realize that my initial oversimplified identification schema was a bit naive and incorrect. That does not necessarily mean that I am able to identify all of the skipper species now, but I can look at them more carefully and see the differences in their colors and patterns that will help me to find them in my identification guides.
I spotted this beautiful Silver-spotted Skipper during a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The butterfly was skittish and elusive, but I eventually managed to capture this shot of it by peering through a “window” in the vegetation.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Skippers are hard. I use several books. Doesn’t always help.
Cute and beautiful all rolled into one.