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 424 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: May 31, 1987
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2025
Observation date: Apr 08, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 08, 2025
Observation date: Mar 04, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 06, 2025
Observation date: Oct 08, 2024
Submitted by: katiej
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2024
Observation date: Oct 08, 2024
Submitted by: katiej
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 08, 2024
Submitted by: katiej
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 02, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 04, 2024
Observation date: Mar 15, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: ElizabethP
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: ElizabethP
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 02, 2023
Observation date: Oct 31, 2023
Submitted by: vanila
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 02, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: ElizabethP
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 02, 2023
Observation date: Nov 11, 2023
Submitted by: Tashi Liem
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 01, 2023
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