Columbian Skipper
Common NameColumbian Skipper
Scientific NameHesperia columbia
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, white
HabitatOpen grassy areas, meadows, prairies, forest clearings, and dry hillsides.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, including British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, various grasses
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, constructing shelters from silk and leaves, and typically overwinter as partially grown larvae. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground in spring.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of orange-brown forewings and hindwings with a series of prominent white spots on the underside of the hindwing. The antennae are distinctly clubbed with a hooked tip.
Description
A small to medium-sized skipper with an orange-brown upperside and a duller brown underside featuring a distinctive pattern of white spots on the hindwing. Its body is hairy and light brown.
