Taxiles Skipper
Lon taxiles (W. H. Edwards, 1881)
Family: Hesperiidae
Status: Uncommon local resident
NENHP Ranking: S2S3, Tier 2
Range: The Taxiles Skipper is found in mountain habitats from eastern Wyoming south into Mexico. In Nebraska it can be found in the Pine Ridge and along the Niobrara River east to Keya Paha County. It should be watched for farther east along the Niobrara River as far as the ponderosa pine habitat extends.
Larval Hostplant(s): Grasses: Dactylis,Poa, Agrostis and Elymus species.
Broods/Flight Times: One mid summer flight in July.
Overwintering: As a caterpillar.
Habitat: The Taxiles Skipper can be found along and atop open slopes and woodland margins, but predominantly occurs along streamsides in pine forest habitats.
Avg. Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 11/16 inches.
Found at: Chadron State Park, Gilbert-Baker SWMA, Sowbelly Canyon, Fort Robinson State Park (Soldier Creek area), Niobrara Valley Preserve
Similar Species:
Notes: Populations in Nebraska are referred to as subspecies albimaculatus which was described by Steve Spomer in 2021. The type locality for this subspecies is Coffee Park, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County NE.
Taxiles Skipper, Sioux Co, J. Nikkila
