About Euphyes dion (Edwards, 1879)
Euphyes dion, commonly known as the Dion skipper or Alabama skipper, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It occurs in scattered populations along the Atlantic coast of North America. Its range extends from western Massachusetts and southeastern New York south to northeastern Florida, west to northeastern Texas, and north to southeastern North Dakota, northern Wisconsin, southern Ontario and southern Quebec. In the U.S. state of Connecticut, it is classified as a species of special concern. The wingspan of this butterfly measures 37 to 45 mm. Northern populations have one generation, with active adults on the wing from July to early August. Southern populations have two generations, with active adults on the wing from May to September. The caterpillar larvae feed on a variety of sedges, including Scirpus cyperinus, Carex lacustris and Carex hyalinolepis. Adult butterflies feed on nectar from many types of flowers, including pickerelweed, sneezeweed, buttonbush and Alsike clover, among others.
