Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas W. H. Edwards)
Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 5/8 inches (2.9 - 4.2 cm).
Identification: Wings are brownish orange. Underside of hindwing has white veins, white spots extended along the veins, and black submarginal patches.
Life history: Males perch on tops of small hills or mesas to await females. Females lay eggs singly on or near the host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and take shelter in tied-up leaves.
Flight: One brood from June-July in high elevations; two broods from May-September in the remainder of the range.
Caterpillar hosts: Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) and needlegrass (Stipa).
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Short-grass prairie, sagebrush, open woodland.
Range: High plains from central Alberta east to southern Manitoba; south to east-central California, southeast Arizona, west and north Texas; south to southern Mexico. A stray to southwest Iowa and eastern Minnesota.
