Sonoran Skipper
Common NameSonoran Skipper
Scientific NamePolites sonora
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsorange, brown, green
HabitatMontane meadows, open woodlands, canyons, riparian areas
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado) and northern Mexico
Host PlantsPoa, Bromus, Festuca
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grass blades, often constructing shelters by tying leaves together, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsKey features include the bright tawny orange upperside with broad dark brown borders, a greenish-brown hairy thorax, and the characteristic skipper antennae with hooked clubs. Males possess a dark stigma on the forewing.
Description
A small, robust skipper with bright tawny orange wings broadly bordered in dark brown, and a hairy, greenish-brown thorax.
