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 145 - 168 of 935 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 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: cklindsey
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 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: cklindsey
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Arlene Ripley
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2003
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2000
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 1996
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 1996
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 1989
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 1984
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 09, 1981
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Sep 09, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 26, 2020
Observation date: Sep 17, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2020
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
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