Umber Skipper
Poanes melane (W.H. Edwards, 1869)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is umber brown; forewing with darker disc and pale spots; hindwing with a light yellow-brown band. Female is larger and lighter colored. Underside resembles upperside but spots are larger and lighter; forewing base is black.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 inches (3.2 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch in grassy areas to wait for receptive females. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled or tied leaves.
Flight: Two broods from March-May and September-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various grasses including tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), California brome (Bromus carinatus); and sedges including San Diego sedge (Carex spissa).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Desert foothills, grassy areas, streamsides, roadsides, yards, parks, open oak woodland.
Range: California west of the Sierra Nevada Divide; southern Arizona; Baja California and the highlands of Mexico and Central America.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 416 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: Jocelyndelgado2002
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 14, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: Jocelyndelgado2002
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 14, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: Jocelyndelgado2002
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 14, 2023
Observation date: Nov 12, 2023
Submitted by: Jocelyndelgado2002
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2023
Submitted by: katrinaoller
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 28, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 28, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 11, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 18, 2023
Submitted by: bapeck8
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
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