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 249 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: dchartier
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Conejos County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Conejos County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: MJKrotzer
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2014
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 15, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2016
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
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