Butterflies and Skippers of North America

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HESPERIINAE 3

Hesperia *The species of the genus Hesperia* can be very difficult to identify. Some species can be reliably separated only by dissection of the male and female genitalia.**
	Hesperia uncas Uncas Skipper Forewing below with a distinct postmedial band; maculation of hindwing below distinct with veins accented with white and diffuse dark patches between the white patches.
	Hesperia juba Juba Skipper Forewings elongated and pointed; brown marginal band of forewing with projections extending inward; hindwing below greenish brown with distinct white patches.
	Hesperia comma Common Banded Skipper The comma species group consists of comma, assiniboia, and colorado. Hindwing below with spots distinct and white in contrast with the indistinct spots and lighter coloration of assiniboia. Best separated from colorado by geographic range; comma is northern and eastern and colorado is western (compare distribution maps in species accounts).
	Hesperia assiniboia Plains Skipper *See notes under Hesperia comma.*
	Hesperia colorado Western Banded Skipper *See notes under Hesperia comma.*
	Hesperia woodgatei Apache Skipper Hindwing below with a rich brown or olive-brown coloration; white patches small and well separated.
	Hesperia ottoe Ottoe Skipper *Female hindwing above with more orange than in meskei; primarily midwestern and northern species.*
	Hesperia leonardus Leonard's Skipper Male stigma viewed with microscope or hand lens with yellow felt-like hairs; female hindwing with distinct difference between light and dark parts; hindwing below dull rusty-red, spots not separated.
	Hesperia pahaska Pahaska Skipper Male stigma viewed with microscope or hand lens with yellow felt-like hairs; hindwing coloration greenish-yellow; pahaska is virtually impossible to separate from viridis by superficial appearance; range of columbia does not overlap that of pahaska or viridis.
	Hesperia metea Cobweb Skipper The ventral coloration and maculation of this species is distinctive.
	Hesperia columbia Columbian Skipper *Hindwing coloration green-brown, most similar to pahaska* and viridis, but distribution does not overlap that of either species (see distribution maps in species accounts)**
	Hesperia viridis Green Skipper Male stigma viewed with microscope or hand lens with yellow felt-like hairs; hindwing coloration greenish-yellow; pahaska is virtually impossible to separate from viridis by superficial appearance; range of columbia does not overlap that of pahaska or viridis.
	Hesperia attalus Dotted Skipper The coloration and markings of the hindwing below are distinctive.
	Hesperia meskei Meske's Skipper *Female hndwing above with less orange than in ottoe; primarily southeastern United States.*
	Hesperia lindseyi Lindsey's Skipper The nearly immaculate upperside in the male, the light yellow-orange female coloration, the yellow-orange coloration of the hindwing below, and the black spots on the outer margin of the hindwing below are distinctive.
No Photographs Available	Hesperia miriamae Sierra Skipper Live and freshly caught individuals with a iridescent blue sheen on both wings; hindwing underside bluish gray to gold-gray with large distinct cream colored patches; restricted to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
	Hesperia dacotae Dakota Skipper Forewing, particularly of female, not pointed; female with transparent spot below the apical end of the cell; hindwing below yellow-orange (male) or gray-brown (female) with very weak markings; felt-like hairs of male stigma black; very limited range in North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba, and Minnesota.
	Hesperia sassacus Indian Skipper Male forewing with a sharply defined dark brown outer border, often with inward projections; hindwing below yellow-brown with no contrasting light markings; northern eastern distribution.
	Hesperia nevada Nevada Skipper Dark markings of male forewing blended into orange background; felt-like hairs black, not yellow as in pahaska and viridis; hindwing below white patches different than in colorado.