Draco Skipper
Polites draco (W.H. Edwards, 1871)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside of male is dark brown with reddish-orange markings; forewing with a short black stigma. Reddish-orange bar opposite the hindwing cell is longer than the other bars. Female is similar but lacks a stigma and has lighter colored markings. Underside of both sexes is brown with a greenish tint and cream spots, and has the upperside markings repeated. Veins are the same color as the wing and there are dark dots at the vein ends.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: To await receptive females, males perch in low grassy spots all day.
Flight: One brood from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Grassy, high elevation meadows.
Range: Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. There is one record for Nevada.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 268 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 22, 2026
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jun 26, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 27, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 21, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2026
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 13, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 03, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: May 28, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: May 26, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2026
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 17, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2012
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: RobSimpson
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 17, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jackson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 26, 2024
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