Status: Rare breeding resident..

Distinguishing features: The Broad-winged Skipper is most easily identified by having a large bright orange patch (bordered by dark brown) on the upper hindwing, and by its mostly dark upper forewing with only a small amount of orange. The lower hindwing is rusty colored, with faint light orange spots surrounding a central orange ray between two central veins.

Distribution and habitat: This species is restricted to prairie marshes, lake margins, and fens from the Lake Okoboji region in the northwest to eastern Jones County in the east-central part of the state. It was first located in Iowa at the poor fen at Dead Man's Lake in Pilot Knob State Park (L. Miller, 1961). It ranks among Iowa's rarest wetland skippers.

Natural History: The Broad Winged Skipper seems to prefer undisturbed wetland sites with an abundance of large-leaved sedges, such as Carex lacustris. Its larvae have been reported to feed on this species in other states.