Home
Species Detail
Woodland Skipper
Ochlodes sylvanoides (Boisduval, 1852)
Attributes of Ochlodes sylvanoidesFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (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. 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. Wing span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm). 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. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Ochlodes sylvanoides
|
