Home › The Common Skippers › The Sachem

The Sachem

Hylephila campestris (Hy-leph'i-la cam-pes'tris) PLATE XL, FIG. IO, II, 12 In the male the upper surface of the fore wings is dark yellow with a tawny tinge, dusky at base, the outer border dark brown and with a discal brand; the central portion of the hind wings is yellow, but traversed by brownish veins and surrounded by a dark brown margin. The light markings of the upper surface are repeated on the lower surface. In the female the upper surface of both pairs of wings is dark brown with a row of lighter spots beyond the middle; the spots in cells M, and Cu, of the fore wings are translucent. 3 Expanse of wings one and one-fifth to one and one-half inches.

This insect was long known under the specific named huron, which probably suggested the common name sachem. The species is distributed over the eastern two thirds of the United States. In the South the larva feeds on Bermuda grass, and makes a retreat by fastening together leaves.