Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Hesperiidae

     Hesperia columbia
     Columbia Skipper


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.75 in.
Recognition: Brown with orange coloring through middle of wings and brown patch in FW orange area (male); underside light yellow-brown (sometimes with slight green tinge), with single white medial spot, and more apical irregular white band.
Flight period: Two generations per year, with adults active in late spring and again in early fall.
Hostplants: Larvae eat grasses, particularly junegrass (Koeleria).
Habitat: Chaparral areas around hostplants.
Distribution: Found almost exclusively in the coast ranges of California and southern Oregon.

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