Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Hesperiidae

     Atalopedes campestris
     Sachem


upperside
underside

Size: Wingspread 1.5-1.7 in.
Recognition: Brown and orange; male with black patch in middle of FW; female with square translucent patch in same spot.
Flight period: March to December, which includes 4- 5 generations.
Hostplants: The larvae feed on grasses, especially Bermuda Grass.
Habitat: Open, sunny areas such as fields and gardens.
Distribution: Much of the southern U.S., extending up the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
Other: The Sachem is not often seen in southern California and is a rare butterfly in Santa Barbara County, if it is present here at all. There are records of this skipper in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

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