Species › Insects & Arthropods › Leonard's Skipper

Leonard's Skipper

Hesperia leonardus

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Leonard's Skipper (Hesperia leonardus)

Leonard's Skipper is a large, richly colored grass skipper with deep orange-brown wings and a prominent curved pale spot band on the hindwing underside. It has a remarkably late flight season — appearing in late August through October when most skippers are gone. It is strongly associated with open, sunny grasslands and prairie remnants.

Habitat
Native grasslands, prairie remnants, and grassy roadsides
Diet
Larvae: native grasses including little bluestem. Adults: nectar from asters and goldenrod
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Leonard's Skipper

The best time to see a Leonard's Skipper is August–September, when about 99% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 675 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Leonard's Skipper? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Leonard's Skipper sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Leonard's Skipper?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More insects & arthropods

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly
Lesser Emperor Dragonfly
Anax parthenope
Lettered Sphinx
Lettered Sphinx
Deidamia inscriptum
Little Glassywing
Little Glassywing
Pompeius verna
Little Wood Satyr
Little Wood Satyr
Megisto cymela
Locust Borer
Locust Borer
Megacyllene robiniae
Lone Star Tick
Lone Star Tick
Amblyomma americanum
Long-horned Bee
Long-horned Bee
Melissodes bimaculatus
Long-jawed Orb Weaver
Long-jawed Orb Weaver
Tetragnatha extensa