Cassus Roadside-Skipper
Common NameCassus Roadside-Skipper
Scientific NameAmblyscirtes cassus
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, yellow-orange
HabitatArid grasslands, open woodlands, canyons, rocky areas, often near streams or washes.
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California) and northern Mexico.
Host PlantsBouteloua spp. (grama grasses), Muhlenbergia spp.
Flight PeriodApril to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on host grasses, larvae feed on the grasses, pupate, and emerge as adults.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled grey-brown underside hindwing, the yellowish-orange patch at the base of the forewing, and the distinct hooked antennae. It lacks prominent white spots on the hindwing underside.
Description
A small skipper with a mottled grey-brown underside, featuring a distinct yellowish-orange patch near the base of the forewing. Its body is dark, and its antennae are clubbed with a hooked tip.
