Woodland Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is orange with toothed brown borders. Forewing has a black stigma (male) or a black diagonal band (female). Hindwing has a large reddish patch. Underside varies from yellow to reddish to brown; hindwing varies from unmarked to having a distinct band of cream to yellow spots.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on ridges in California and in gullies in Colorado to await females. First-stage caterpillars hibernate, complete their feeding the next spring, diapause in the summer as fully-grown caterpillars, then pupate and emerge as adults in the fall.
Flight: One brood from late July-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), canary grass (Phalaris), wildrye (Elymus), and wheatgrass (Agropyron).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Grassy areas in chaparral, sagebrush, woodland, gardens, and small streams.
Range: Very common. British Columbia south to southern California; east to Montana, Colorado, and Arizona.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 961 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 27, 2020
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: The Proprietor ...
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Boise County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2024
Submitted by: Geoff Urwin
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 29, 2006
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Butte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 01, 2025
Observation date: Sep 24, 2024
Submitted by: Dave Rintoul
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Cruz Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 19, 2024
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
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