Splendid Ochre
Common NameSplendid Ochre
Scientific NameOchlodes sylvanoides
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyHesperiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, brown, yellow, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, meadows, forest edges, clearings, roadsides
Geographic RangeWestern North America (British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains)
Host Plantsbrome, fescue, bluegrass
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses, creating shelters by tying leaves, and overwinter as partially grown larvae. Pupation occurs in a loose cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the overall ochre-brown coloration with distinct translucent yellow-orange spots on the forewing. Males have a prominent black stigma on the forewing. The underside of the hindwing is typically a uniform ochre-brown with faint or absent spots.
Description
A medium-sized skipper with an ochre-orange to brown upperside, marked with translucent yellow-orange spots on the forewing and a few white spots on the hindwing underside.
