Crossline Skipper
(Polites origenes)
Crossline Skipper sightings, by week (about)
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 2, 2006.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 2, 2006. Same individual as the top photo.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 2, 2006.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 9, 2006.
Click to enlargeHardscrabble SNA, Lafayette Co., WI. July 9, 2006.
I have only seen this species for sure at Hardscrabble SNA where I took the photos on this page. Others have seen this species throughout the state, but I have yet to find this species elsewhere. This species is very similar to the Tawny-edged Skipper and it is possible that I have seen it in other areas but I am just not familiar enough with worn specimens to identify them properly (see the bottom photo on the Tawny-edged Skipper page).
Identifying characteristics: Below, fresh specimens of this skipper are brownish orange with no contrasting orange in the upper wing and a faint spot band and generally those spots are smaller than those of other skipper species in Wisconsin. Above, the male has a prominent stigma and an additional black spot that seems to be a continuation of the stigma so that it appears to have a line all the way across the upper wing. The female is mainly a dark skipper with faint orange only on the wing edge of fresh individuals. It has two of three light spots in the middle of the upper wing, the larger of which is often nearly square. Like the male, the female does have a faint spot band on the hind wing below.
Similar species: The Tawny-edged Skipper is most likely to get confused with the Crossline Skipper. Both of these species are somewhat variable and posting of confusing photos are likely to get a variety of opinions of what species it is. There is a terrific posting on Carolina Nature of photos of two females and the resulting discussions are a great indication on how tough it may be to identify the females of these two species. See the discussion of the differences between the males of these species on the Tawny-edged Skipper page. Several references note the difference in size between these two species with the Crossline being noticeably larger than the Tawny-edged Skipper. Because of that, notes should be included with photos as to the relative size of the skipper in question. For example, the Tawny-edged Skipper is just slightly larger than a Peck’s Skipper, while the Crossline Skipper is about the size of a Long Dash.
Habitat: In Wisconsin this species has been seen in drier habitats, including drier prairies and barrens.
Flight: This species is double-brooded in Illinois, but it is not certain that it has two broods in Wisconsin. This species flies from late June though July and like the Tawny-edged Skipper it may occasionally have a second generation, especially in the southern counties.
Abundance: Like the Tawny-edged Skipper this species is not common in Wisconsin and is most likely to be seen singly. I have seen nine individuals in a single day.
Early Crossline Skipper sightings, all years
| Date seen | County | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| 06–16–2004 | Sawyer | Eric North |
| 06–23–2007 | Lafayette | Todd Sima and Mike Reese |
| 06–24–2007 | Grant | Mike Reese |
| 06–29–2007 | Crawford | Mike Reese |
| 07–02–2006 | Lafayette | Todd Sima, Mike Reese |
| 07–02–2007 | Columbia | Karl and Dorothy Legler |
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Crossline Skipper
Polites origenes