Western Branded Skipper
Hesperia colorado (Scudder, 1874)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Extremely variable; many geographical forms with differing appearances. Adults (especially males) have relatively pointed forewing tips and more warm orange on the upperside. Band on hindwing underside may be complete, made of small or large spots, faint, or absent.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.2- 3.8 cm).
Life History: To await receptive females, males perch near the host plant or on tops of hills. Females scatter eggs on or near the host; caterpillars eat leaves and live in nests of tied leaves. Eggs overwinter.
Flight: One brood from mid-July (as early as May in California) to late September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including fescue (Festuca), brome (Bromus), bluegrass (Poa), needlegrass (Stipa), and beardgrass (Andropogon); sedges.
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including asters, goldenrods, and blazing star.
Habitat: Sunny open areas including forest openings and edges, meadows, fields, roadsides, trails, grassy slopes, and the alpine.
Range: From Washington and Wyoming south to Baja California Norte, southeastern Arizona, and western Nebraska.
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 25 - 48 of 918 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: Don Atkinson-Adams
Region: Sanders County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Wallowa County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: Thom Garrett
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2005
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2013
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
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