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 25 - 48 of 4116 verified sightings
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 24, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 24, 2024
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 18, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Calhoun County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jan 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: talusrutgers
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jan 17, 2024
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: Ty-Sharrow
Region: Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 17, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: xBISsped6
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: xBISsped6
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 17, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 13, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Lyon County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
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