Western Branded Skipper
Hesperia colorado (Scudder, 1874)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Extremely variable; many geographical forms with differing appearances. Adults (especially males) have relatively pointed forewing tips and more warm orange on the upperside. Band on hindwing underside may be complete, made of small or large spots, faint, or absent.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.2- 3.8 cm).
Life History: To await receptive females, males perch near the host plant or on tops of hills. Females scatter eggs on or near the host; caterpillars eat leaves and live in nests of tied leaves. Eggs overwinter.
Flight: One brood from mid-July (as early as May in California) to late September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including fescue (Festuca), brome (Bromus), bluegrass (Poa), needlegrass (Stipa), and beardgrass (Andropogon); sedges.
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including asters, goldenrods, and blazing star.
Habitat: Sunny open areas including forest openings and edges, meadows, fields, roadsides, trails, grassy slopes, and the alpine.
Range: From Washington and Wyoming south to Baja California Norte, southeastern Arizona, and western Nebraska.
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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 788 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 17, 2012
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: paulselden
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Shearwater13
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: