Common Branded Skipper
Common NameCommon Branded Skipper
Scientific NameHesperia comma
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, white
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, open woodlands, alpine and subalpine areas
Geographic RangeHolarctic; widespread in North America (especially western mountains and northern regions), Europe, and Asia.
Host Plantsvarious grasses (Poaceae)
Flight PeriodJuly to October (late summer to early fall)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, constructing shelters by tying blades together, and overwinter as partially grown larvae. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the prominent white spots on the underside of the hindwing, which can vary in shape and size. Males possess a distinct black 'brand' (stigma) on the forewing.
Description
A small, robust skipper with tawny-orange and brown upperwings, and a distinctive pattern of white, often rectangular, spots on the brown-orange underside of the hindwing.
