Russet Skipperling
Piruna pirus (W.H. Edwards, 1878)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown; underside is red-brown. Forewing above and below has tiny transparent white spots; hindwing has no markings above or below.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Adults rest with their wings closed, but bask with hindwings open wide and forewings open to about 45 degrees. To find receptive females, males patrol above low plants in river courses, streams, and moist ravines. Caterpillars live and feed within nests of webbed leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Probably grasses such as bluegrass (Poa).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Moist valley bottoms, forest openings, meadows.
Range: Southeastern Idaho, southern Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New 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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 126 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 05, 2020
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 13, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Rozelle Wright
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: dwwagz
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 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 08, 2020
Submitted by: steve222020
Region: Adams County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 20, 2015
Submitted by: Mike Hofmann
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 30, 2016
Observation date: Jul 04, 2014
Submitted by: lhinderlider
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 31, 2014
Observation date: Jul 09, 2013
Submitted by: sagebird52
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jul 15, 2013
Observation date: May 31, 2007
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 21, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George Balogh)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 22, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George Balogh)
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 15, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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