Montana Field Guide

There has been disagreement on the taxonomic status of Hesperia colorado (Western Branded Skipper), which has formally been considered a subspecies of H. comma (Common Branded Skipper) in some prior treatments and a full species in others (Scott 1975d, 1986; Layberry et al. 1998; Opler and Wright 1999; Glassberg 2001; Pyle 2002). In 2023 the taxonomy and distribution of these species was clarified and H. colorado is accepted as the species that occurs in Montana (Pelham 2023).

[From Ferris and Brown 1981; Scott 1986; Layberry et al. 1998; Opler and Wright 1999; Glassberg 2001; Pyle 2002] Forewing 1.3-1.6 cm. Highly variable. Antennae < 1/3 wing lenth with large clubs, forewing often pointed, fringe grayish to whitish and unchecked. Uppersurface orange to tawny to reddish, border dark and narrow to broad (depending on subspecies), not extending inward in a tooth-like pattern, forewing with whitish postmedian and apical spots, male forewing stigma with interior black felt; undersurface greenish or grayish to orange to chocolate-brown, postmedian spots of hindwing chevron large and silver-white to yellowish-white.

One flight most areas (Shapiro and Forister 2005), two flights reported in southern Nevada (Austin and Austin 1980). Mid-June to mid-September in Canada (Layberry et al. 1998). Late June through August in Colorado (Brown 1957; Emmel 1964; Warren and Calhoun 2015), Mid-May to late October in Nevada (Austin and Austin 1980), mid-June to late September in California (Emmel and Emmel 1962; Shapiro 1977; Shapiro and Calhoun 2005), early May to late September in Oregon and Washington (Pyle 2002), mid-June to late September in Oregon (Warren 2005).

Uppersurface borders generally narrow and not extending inward in a tooth-like pattern, undersurface of hindwing gray-green with postmedian spots of chevron large and silver-white to yellowish-white.

Non-migratory.

Grasslands, open woodlands, brushlands, above treeline in alpine habitat (Ferris and Brown 1981; Scott 1986; Layberry et al. 1998; Opler and Wright 1999; Glassberg 2001; Pyle 2002). Habitat in Montana not described but probably similar.

Larval food plants are grasses, including Achnatherum, Andropogon, Anthoxanthum, Bromus, Bouteloua, Festuca, Lolium, Muhlenbergia, as well as Elytrigia, Poa, and Setaria in captivity; also sedges, including Carex (Scott 1986, 1992, 2006; Layberry et al. 1998; Pyle 2002; Shapiro and Forister 2005; James 2009; James and Nunnallee 2011). Adults feed on flower nectar (including Achillea, Apocynum, Arnica, Calyptridium, Chaenactis, Chrysothamnus, Cirsium, Erigeron, Grindelia, Haplopappus, Heterotheca, Hymenoxys, Liatris, Penstamon, Polygonum, Potentilla, Prunus, Sarcostema, Sedum, Solidago, Taraxacum) and mud (Austin and Austin 1980; Pyle 2002; Shapiro and Forister 2005; Warren 2005; Scott 2014; Gelling 2015).

Females lay eggs singly and somewhat haphazardly on or near the base of host plant (Scott 1986, 1992, 2006; James and Nunnallee 2011). Eggs containing L1 instars (sometimes L1 instars) overwinter (depending on cohort), hatch in the wild 260-290 days after egg-laying (depending on temperature), hatch in captivity 45-65 days post egg-laying, develop to L5 or L6 instars in 63-97 days and undergo summer diapause (dormancy), pupate the following spring, adults eclose (emerge from pupae) in 14-18 days; egg to adult duration in wild 336-410 days, in captivity 64-80 days (Scott 1975e; James 2009; James and Nunnallee 2011). Larvae feed on host plant leaves, live in silk-tied leaf nests, develop though 6 instars, pupate within cocoon in last leaf nest (Scott 1975e, 1979; James 2009; James and Nunnallee 2011). Males perch throughout the day, often on hilltops, flat areas, along roadsides, awaiting passing females (Scott 1975b, 1986; Warren 2005; James and Numnnallee 2011).