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 323 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Sep 13, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021
Observation date: May 29, 2021
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: Kathy Early
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2021
Submitted by: janna
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2021
Observation date: May 28, 2021
Submitted by: julie long
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2021
Observation date: Mar 28, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 04, 2020
Observation date: Sep 30, 2020
Submitted by: alinakanin
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 01, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: cynthiafairy
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: May 12, 2020
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 29, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2020
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