Tawny-edged Skipper
Polites themistocles (Latreille, [1824])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with orange markings; orange along the costal edge of forewing enters the end of the cell. Male has a sinuous forewing stigma. Underside of hindwing is brassy with no markings.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 7/16 inches (2.2 - 3.6 cm).
Life History: To await receptive females, males perch all day in grassy valley bottoms and swales. Females lay eggs singly on or near the host plant. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of tied leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July in the north, two broods from April-September from New York south, several broods throughout the year in Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Panic grasses (Panicum), slender crabgrass (Digitaria filiformis), and bluegrass (Poa pratensis).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including alfalfa, red clover, dogbane, shrub houstonia, purple coneflower, thistles, and chicory.
Habitat: Moist grassy areas including prairie swales, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and vacant lots.
Range: Southern British Columbia east across southern Canada to Nova Scotia; south to northern California, central Arizona, central Texas, the Gulf states, and central Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may 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 4143 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 13, 2016
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 27, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: Julius
Region: Roane County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 21, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Oct 06, 2025
Observation date: Sep 22, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Oct 01, 2025
Observation date: Sep 09, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: tedzimmerman
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 01, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 10, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 09, 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 18, 2025
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 18, 2025
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2025
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
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