Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Short-tailed Skipper
Zestusa dorus (W.H. Edwards, 1882)


Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Hindwing tails are short. Upperside is brown with prominent clear spots on both forewing and hindwing. Underside is speckled with brown and gray; clear spots are not so obvious.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: To seek females, males perch on trees on hilltops. Females lay eggs singly on leaves or buds of host plants. Caterpillars live in shelters of rolled leaves and feed on leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Possibly two flights in Arizona from April-July; one flight in Colorado from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Arizona oak (Quercus arizonica), Emory oak (Q. emoryi), and others.
Adult Food: Sap and spittlebug secretions.
Habitat: Juniper-oak woodland.
Range: Southwest Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and Mexico.
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
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