Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,597 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Tawny-edged Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Tawny-edged Skipper
Polites themistocles, the tawny-edged skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Tawny-edged Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1,125 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Florida | 701 | October | Mar–Oct |
| New York | 440 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Ohio | 334 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 327 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 249 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Vermont | 246 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 242 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kentucky | 239 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 228 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 225 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 213 | August | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 211 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 145 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 133 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 125 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Nebraska | 120 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 118 | August | May–Sep |
| Iowa | 113 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 108 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Mexico | 96 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 94 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 91 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Virginia | 85 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 75 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 62 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 58 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Georgia | 48 | September | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 47 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 37 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Dakota | 37 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Tennessee | 34 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Dakota | 33 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 31 | April | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 27 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 25 | August | May–Aug |
| Washington | 19 | June | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 17 | July | May–Sep |
| Utah | 16 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 7 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Alabama | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Tawny-edged Skipper?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Tawny-edged Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Illinois, Florida, New York.