American Branded Skipper
Common NameAmerican Branded Skipper
Scientific NameHesperia comma
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale yellow, greenish-yellow, white, orange-brown
HabitatOpen grassy areas, meadows, subalpine slopes, forest clearings
Geographic RangeWestern North America, extending into Canada and Alaska, with some isolated eastern populations
Host Plantsvarious grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating leaf shelters, and overwinter as partially grown larvae before pupating in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the distinctive pattern of white, rectangular spots on the pale yellowish-green underside of the hindwings. Males possess a prominent black stigma (brand) on the upperside of the forewing.
Description
A small, robust skipper with a hairy, greenish-yellow body. The underside of its hindwings is pale yellowish-green with prominent, somewhat rectangular white spots.
