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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Rural Skipper
Ochlodes agricola (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is yellow-orange with dark borders and light translucent spots; male forewing stigma has gray in the center. Underside is reddish brown; hindwing band is pale to absent.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch at the edges of clearings to await receptive females.
Flight: One brood from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Chaparral, streamsides, woodland openings, fencerows.
Range: California west of the Sierra Nevada Divide, south into Baja California Norte.
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
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 212 verified sightings

Observation date: May 29, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2018

Observation date: Jun 02, 2017
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2017

Observation date: May 26, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2017

Observation date: Jun 08, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016

Observation date: Jun 16, 2016
Submitted by: TPeterson
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2016

Observation date: Jun 05, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2016

Observation date: Apr 29, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2016

Observation date: Apr 16, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 16, 2015

Observation date: Jul 04, 2015
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2015

Observation date: Jun 27, 2015
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2015

Observation date: Jun 14, 2015
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2015

Observation date: Jun 06, 2015
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015

Observation date: May 16, 2015
Submitted by: rebeccafm
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2015

Observation date: May 08, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2015

Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2015

Observation date: Apr 27, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 30, 2015

Observation date: Apr 26, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 28, 2015

Observation date: Apr 14, 2015
Submitted by: rebeccafm
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 19, 2015

Observation date: Jun 12, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 27, 2014

Observation date: Jun 12, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 27, 2014

Observation date: May 25, 2014
Submitted by: badyak
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 26, 2014

Observation date: May 25, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 15, 2013

Observation date: Apr 28, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012

Observation date: Jun 05, 2011
Submitted by: scheidr
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2011
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