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 274 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: gregslak
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 11, 2019
Observation date: May 27, 2019
Submitted by: Sumac
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2019
Observation date: May 14, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2019
Observation date: Mar 27, 2019
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 27, 2019
Observation date: Mar 15, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2019
Observation date: Oct 12, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Oct 10, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2018
Observation date: Oct 25, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2018
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: Mark F
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: Mark F
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 02, 2018
Observation date: Sep 26, 2018
Submitted by: Sumac
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 26, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 20, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 06, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: SMulhearn
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2018
Observation date: May 14, 2018
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2018
Observation date: May 11, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 12, 2018
Observation date: May 08, 2018
Submitted by: SMulhearn
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2018
Observation date: Apr 08, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 15, 2018
Observation date: Apr 10, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Apr 08, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2018
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