Saltbush Sootywing
Hesperopsis alpheus (W.H. Edwards, 1876)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Fringes are checkered. Upperside is black. Forewing has a mottled gray pattern and a row of dark bars near the outer margin. Hindwing may have pale spots. Underside is black; hindwing with small pale spots.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/4 inches (2 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: To find receptive females, males patrol all day around the host plants and in gulches. Caterpillars eat leaves and make shelters of rolled leaves.
Flight: Two broods from May-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Shadscale (Atriplex canescens) and quail brush (Atriplex lentiformis) in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert washes, alkali flats, arid canyons.
Range: Nevada east to Colorado; south to southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Thank you!
We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 162 verified sightings
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2023
Observation date: Apr 24, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 03, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: May 06, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2022
Observation date: Apr 28, 2022
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2021
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Iron County, Utah, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2021
Submitted by: greentwist
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2016
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: rebeccagracey
Region: Valencia County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: May 14, 2020
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: rebeccagracey
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 23, 2020
Observation date: Apr 28, 2011
Submitted by: Jonathan Batkin
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 30, 2019
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Sep 04, 2016
Submitted by: Martin Reid
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 10, 2017
Observation date: May 21, 2016
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 31, 2016
Observation date: Nov 03, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 24, 2016
Observation date: May 17, 2014
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 21, 2014
Observation date: May 12, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2013
Observation date: Mar 23, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 21, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 10, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 11, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
- 1 of 7
- next ›