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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 232 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 10, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Hamlett
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2017
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 04, 2017
Observation date: Mar 02, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 04, 2017
Observation date: Oct 15, 2016
Submitted by: Lepidopteron
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2017
Observation date: Sep 24, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 27, 2016
Observation date: Aug 20, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2016
Observation date: Jul 17, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: May 29, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2016
Observation date: May 28, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2016
Observation date: May 08, 2016
Submitted by: Lepidopteron
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 23, 2016
Observation date: Apr 17, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2016
Observation date: Apr 10, 2016
Submitted by: wimvdam
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2016
Observation date: Apr 03, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 04, 2016
Observation date: Mar 29, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 30, 2016
Observation date: Mar 27, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 30, 2016
Observation date: Mar 22, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 27, 2016
Observation date: May 21, 2011
Submitted by: pjthiel
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 14, 2016
Observation date: Oct 01, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 30, 2015
Observation date: Apr 16, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 11, 2015
Observation date: Oct 29, 2015
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 02, 2015
Observation date: Oct 17, 2015
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 20, 2015
Observation date: Oct 08, 2015
Submitted by: KittKatt
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 16, 2015
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