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 25 - 48 of 255 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Arley
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2021
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 23, 2021
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