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 971 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 20, 2026
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 11, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 13, 2026
Observation date: Jul 04, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Sep 12, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 05, 2026
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 05, 2026
Observation date: Jul 03, 2026
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2026
Observation date: Jul 01, 2026
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 02, 2026
Observation date: Jul 20, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Shoshone County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 03, 2026
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: Aug 04, 2018
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
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