Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1
Hesperia assiniboia
This record describes Hesperia assiniboia (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished from H. comma by paler colouration beneath and usually reduced spot band. This band can be quite distinct or nearly absent, and is usually white or pale yellow. The ranges of these species overlap in Central Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Other prairie Hesperia also have reduced spot bands below; they can be hard to distinguish, but flight time and the shade of the hindwing underside can help tell them apart. H. assiniboia has a slight greenish tint to the hind wing underside, and its flight time is most similar with the Pawnee Skipper, H. leonardus pawnee . (Layberry et al.)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Hesperia (Branded Skippers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Short-grass prairie.
Geographic Range
Northern Great Plains - Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, Montana.
Seasonal Activity
Usually mid-July to early September (Layberry et al.)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Prairie grasses.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hesperia assiniboia. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joel Kits; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , talusrutgers
Frequently Asked Questions About Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1
What is Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1?
Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 (Hesperia assiniboia) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1?
Wingspan 21-30 mm (Layberry et al.)
How do you identify Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1?
Distinguished from H. comma by paler colouration beneath and usually reduced spot band. This band can be quite distinct or nearly absent, and is usually white or pale yellow. The ranges of these species overlap in Central Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Other prairie Hesperia also have reduced spot bands below; they can be hard to distinguish, but flight time and the shade of the hindwing underside can help tell them apart. H. assiniboia has a slight greenish tint to the hind wing underside, and its flight time is most similar with the Pawnee Skipper, H. leonardus pawnee . (Layberry et al.)
Where is Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Short-grass prairie. |
| Range | Northern Great Plains - Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, Montana. |
What does Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 eat?
The diet of the Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 includes Prairie grasses..
When is Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1 active?
Plains Branded Skipper - Hodges#4020.1: seasonal activity - Usually mid-July to early September (Layberry et al.).