Cobweb Skipper
Hesperia metea Scudder, 1864
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Wings are dark brown or blackish with few light areas. Underside of hindwing has a cobwebbed appearance due to white spots extending along the veins. Subspecies licinus in Texas and Arkansas is very dark both above and below.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: To wait for females, males perch near the host plants all day. Females lay eggs singly on or near the host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and live in nests of rolled or tied leaves. Fully-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from late March to early June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Beard grasses including little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius and A. s. var. glomeratus) and big bluestem (A. gerardi).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of low-growing plants such as Labrador tea, wild strawberry, blackberry, bird's-foot violet, winter cress, and red clover; also lilac, vervain, Carolina larkspur, and wild hyacinth.
Habitat: Dry, grassy openings in woods, pine barrens, oak savannah, open sandy scrub, burned areas, old pastures.
Range: Patchy distribution from southern Maine west to Wisconsin; south to central Georgia, the Gulf States, and central Texas.
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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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 701 verified sightings
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 18, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Missaukee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 09, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Madison County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2021
Observation date: Apr 12, 2021
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2021
Observation date: Apr 12, 2021
Submitted by: otusasiotours
Region: Madison County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 14, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Newaygo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 08, 2019
Observation date: Apr 15, 2012
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Irvin Pitts)
Region: Laurens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Jul 28, 2017
Observation date: May 18, 2017
Submitted by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: May 29, 2017
Observation date: May 02, 2016
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Jun 07, 2016
Observation date: May 14, 2016
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Kent County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: May 20, 2016
Observation date: Apr 13, 2016
Submitted by: tom howe
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Jun 06, 2015
Submitted by: DSMcVicar
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 06, 2015
Observation date: Apr 27, 2012
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: May 03, 2011
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Bath County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: Apr 28, 2010
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Alleghany County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: Sep 07, 2014
Submitted by: AllenRatz
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 16, 2014
Observation date: May 24, 2014
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 09, 2014
Observation date: Jul 01, 2013
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 21, 2013
Observation date: Apr 30, 2013
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 01, 2013
Observation date: Apr 25, 2013
Submitted by: rconnorsphoto
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Apr 27, 2013
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