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Species Detail
Draco Skipper
Polites draco (W.H. Edwards, 1871)
Attributes of Polites dracoFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Identification: Upperside of male is dark brown with reddish-orange markings; forewing with a short black stigma. Reddish-orange bar opposite the hindwing cell is longer than the other bars. Female is similar but lacks a stigma and has lighter colored markings. Underside of both sexes is brown with a greenish tint and cream spots, and has the upperside markings repeated. Veins are the same color as the wing and there are dark dots at the vein ends. Life history: To await receptive females, males perch in low grassy spots all day. Flight: One brood from June-August. Wing span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Grasses. Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Grassy, high elevation meadows. Range: Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. There is one record for Nevada. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Polites draco
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