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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 923 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 09, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2012
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 15, 2025
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 09, 2024
Observation date: Aug 11, 2023
Submitted by: TomPeterson
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 20, 2024
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Eureka County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Rich
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
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