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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 142 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 10, 2015
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yukon Territory, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 09, 2015
Observation date: Jul 02, 2015
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 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: Aug 07, 2013
Submitted by: wvbirder
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 08, 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 01, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins, Owen A.)
Region: Iron County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 17, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kluge, Karen; Rosenmeier, Terry)
Region: Caledonia County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 17, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kluge, Karen; Rosenmeier, Terry)
Region: Caledonia County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Kluge, Karen)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 08, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Region: Lamoille County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 24, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (McWhirter, Doug)
Region: Mackinac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 01, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Aversa, Anne)
Region: Orleans County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 08, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Region: Lamoille County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 28, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 24, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sawyer, Susan)
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
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
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: Aug 13, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Reinoehl, Jack)
Region: Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Moran, Michael)
Region: Muskegon County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 25, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (McFarland, Kent)
Region: Essex County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 25, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (McFarland, Kent)
Region: Essex County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (McFarland, Kent)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 09, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Pfeiffer, Bryan)
Region: Essex County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 25, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins, Owen A.)
Region: Mackinac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 08, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hart, Julie)
Region: Essex County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (VBS staff)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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