Umber Skipper
Poanes melane (W.H. Edwards, 1869)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is umber brown; forewing with darker disc and pale spots; hindwing with a light yellow-brown band. Female is larger and lighter colored. Underside resembles upperside but spots are larger and lighter; forewing base is black.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 inches (3.2 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch in grassy areas to wait for receptive females. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves.
Flight: Two broods from March-May and September-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), California brome (Bromus carinatus); and sedges including San Diego sedge (Carex spissa).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert foothills, grassy areas, streamsides, roadsides, yards, parks, open oak woodland.
Range: California west of the Sierra Nevada Divide; southern Arizona; Baja California and the highlands of Mexico and Central America.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 338 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 28, 2022
Submitted by: Annhmaddox@aol.com
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2021
Submitted by: Miguel_L831
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 04, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 1977
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: radek_smolec
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz@comcast.net
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: lumpydave84
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: njhakim
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: Patti_Patamawadee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 26, 2022
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2022
Submitted by: dlister
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 09, 2022
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2015
Submitted by: lotusgreen
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: May 01, 2020
Submitted by: alicelsinclair
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: kairyth
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
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