Common Branded Skipper
Hesperia comma (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Wings relatively short with rounded forewing tips. A northern form (H. c. laurentina) is dark above and below. Band on hindwing underside usually lustrous, spots separate, basalmost spot often set inward as in H. juba and H. nevada.
Wing Span: 1 1/8- 1 1/4 inches (2.2 - 3.0 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. In the arctic, chrysalids or older caterpillars hibernate; elsewhere eggs overwinter.
Flight: One flight from early June to mid-September, probably biennial and Arctic.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses and sedges.
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including asters, goldenrods, and blazing star.
Habitat: Sunny open areas including forest openings and edges, meadows, fields, tundra, and the alpine.
Range: Holarctic. In North America from central Alaska east to Labrador; south to northern Rockies, Great Lakes states, and Maine.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 134 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: tylerjkrul
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: lwhite
Region: Texas, Tom Green County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Granite County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Claire Christensen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Kristi DuBois
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 09, 2019
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 13, 2018
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 18, 2018
Observation date: Aug 13, 2018
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 18, 2018
Observation date: Aug 02, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: MTmariposa
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jul 10, 2015
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yukon Territory, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 09, 2015
Observation date: Aug 27, 2014
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Sep 03, 2014
Observation date: Jul 29, 2013
Submitted by: jamesheintz1
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2013
Observation date: Aug 31, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Schneider, Jerry)
Region: Orleans County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 17, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Griggs, Scott; Griggs, Rachael)
Region: Orleans County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 30, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Nielsen, Mogens C.)
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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