The crystal skipper (Atrytonopsis quinteri) is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae that is found only along a 30-mile (50 km) stretch of barrier islands in North Carolina.

[2] The crystal skipper is endemic to Bogue Banks and Bear Island in North Carolina, USA.

[3] Bear Island, part of Hammocks Beach State Park, is completely undeveloped and has the largest skipper population.

The second largest population is at Fort Macon State Park, on the eastern end of Bogue Banks.

The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which feed, grow and then undergo pupation to form a chrysalis.

The crystal skipper lays its eggs on seaside little bluestem, Schizachyrium littorale, and the caterpillars feed on this grass.

The crystal skipper is found along primary and secondary sand dunes where its hostplant, seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale), is present.

Additionally, the crystal skipper is found on several human-made dredge spoil islands that have been colonized by seaside little bluestem.

Much of the sand dunes on Bogue Banks have been destroyed by development, leaving little habitat for the crystal skipper outside the two state parks.

Crystal skippers rely on flowers for nectar and seaside little bluestem for hostplants.

Native flowers that are commonly used for sources of nectar during the spring crystal skipper brood include: Yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum), risky tread-softly or spurge nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus), southern dewberry (Rubus trivialis), and coastal prickly pear (Opuntia pusilla).

51st Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.

Speciation in an insular sand dune habitat: Atrytonopsis (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) - mainly from the southwestern United States and Mexico - off the Carolina coast.