Tawny-edged Skipper
Polites themistocles (Latreille, [1824])
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with orange markings; orange along the costal edge of forewing enters the end of the cell. Male has a sinuous forewing stigma. Underside of hindwing is brassy with no markings.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 7/16 inches (2.2 - 3.6 cm).
Life History: To await receptive females, males perch all day in grassy valley bottoms and swales. Females lay eggs singly on or near the host plant. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of tied leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July in the north, two broods from April-September from New York south, several broods throughout the year in Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Panic grasses (Panicum), slender crabgrass (Digitaria filiformis), and bluegrass (Poa pratensis).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including alfalfa, red clover, dogbane, shrub houstonia, purple coneflower, thistles, and chicory.
Habitat: Moist grassy areas including prairie swales, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and vacant lots.
Range: Southern British Columbia east across southern Canada to Nova Scotia; south to northern California, central Arizona, central Texas, the Gulf states, and central Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 4119 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: LonnieMiller
Region: Henry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 21, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 17, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: KSkrehot
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2022
Submitted by: lumpydave84
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Macon County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
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