The silver-spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus, is a butterfly (pictured below) in the insect family Hesperiidae.  It is one of the largest, most widespread and commonly recognized skippers in North America.  The wing span of an adult may reach 2.4 inches.  Wings are brownish-colored with a median row of yellowish-gold spots on the forewings and a large, median, irregular-shaped patch of white on the hind wings.  Wing fringes are dashed with white.  Antennae are hook-tipped.  Skippers are well known for their rapid, skipping kind of flight.  Females lay single eggs on host plants, including legumes such as soybean, American hogpeanut, kudzu and black locust.  Young caterpillars fold leaves to make shelter using a silk-like material they produce.  During development, the larvae leave the shelters only to feed or make larger shelters.  Presumably, the shelters are made for protection from predators, primarily parasitic wasps.

It is the caterpillar, or larvae, that we occasionally catch in our sweep nets in soybean fields this time of year.  The caterpillar can be up to two inches long and is very distinctive in appearance.  Its head is large and dark reddish-brown with two prominent orange dots that mimic eyes.  The abdomen is yellowish-green and has darker transverse stripes and spots.  Though larvae feed on soybeans and other legumes they do not occur in numbers high enough to be considered economic pests and control measures are not warranted.

References:

Hall, D. W.  2011.  Featured Creatures.  Univ. of Florida, Entomol. and Nematol. Dept., Accessed 9-6-14.  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/silver-spotted_skipper.htm

Marshall, S. A. 2006.  Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity.  Firefly Books Ltd.  Buffalo, NY 14205. Pg. 189.