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 49 - 72 of 918 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: HMBBirder
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
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