Tawny-edged Skipper vs Light Emerald

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tawny-edged Skipper Light Emerald
Scientific Name Polites themistocles Campaea margaritaria
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Hesperiidae Geometridae
Size 20-27 mm wingspan 40-52 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Eastern and Central North America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tawny-edged Skipper

A small brown skipper with a warm orange-tawny leading edge on the forewing. It is one of the most common grass skippers in eastern North America but is easily overlooked.

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Did You Know?

It is named after the ancient Athenian general Themistocles, following a tradition of naming skippers after classical figures.

Light Emerald

A delicate pale green moth with fine white cross-lines that fades to white as it ages. It is one of the most commonly encountered emerald moths at light traps.

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Did You Know?

Its green pigment is chemically unstable and bleaches completely in museum specimens within months.