How to Identify Skipper Insects in New Jersey

Skipper insects are common in New Jersey and across the East Coast of the United States. Skippers are similar to moths and butterflies and can be classified as either. There are approximately 3,500 known species of skipper insects worldwide. There are many species of skipper in New Jersey.

Things You'll Need

  • Skipper insect
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Study the insect's body. A skipper insect's body is hairier and bulkier than that of a butterfly. Due to this, skippers can be confused with moths, but they are not true moths.

    • 2

      Look at the insect's antennae. Skippers have knobbed or hooked antennae, whereas moths have thread-like antennae. This will help you distinguish a skipper from a moth.

    • 3

      Study the shape of the insect's wings. Skippers have distinct triangular wings. Their wingspan is about 0.6-2.6 inches, which is smaller than most butterflies' wingspans. So if you found a dead one, you could measure the wings to help identify it. If you see one, you can estimate if the wings might be within this range.

    • 4

      Study the way they hold their wings. When basking in the sun, skippers hold their wings open, with their front wings and back wings at different angles from each other. This stance is unique to skippers and never seen in butterflies or moths. Some skippers hold their wings wide open, also not a trait of butterflies.