Taxiles Skipper
Poanes taxiles (W.H. Edwards, 1881)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Male narrow black borders; underside of forewing with slightly darkened tip and outer margin; underside of hindwing with darkened base and outer margin. Female: Upperside is dark orange-brown with pale orange patches on the forewing and central hindwing. Underside of hindwing is violet-brown with a pale band of spots and a patch of gray scales near the outer margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 11/16 inches (3.2 - 4.3 cm).
Life History: Males perch in sunlit openings on leaves about 3-5 feet above the ground. They appear to defend their territory and may keep a perch for as long as a week. Courtship usually occurs in the afternoon. Females lay eggs singly under the host leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and make shelters of silk-tied leaves.
Flight: One brood from mid-June to August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses including bluegrass (Poa), wheatgrass (Agropyron), orchardgrass (Dactylis), wildrye (Elymus), and bentgrass (Agrostis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Woodland openings, stream valleys, forest meadows.
Range: Western South Dakota and north-central Nebraska south through the southern Rocky Mountains and foothills to central 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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 299 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: JulieLuetzelschwab
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 13, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2016
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2011
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2020
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