Common NameHobomok SkipperSeasonalityThere is one yearly generation, and adults are most commonly encountered in mid June.IdentificationPeck's Skipper (Polites peckius) is the only other skipper that shares the large, brown-bordered yellowish patch on the hindwing underside; in Hobomok the pale patch is continous throughout the median area, and in Peck's this patch is separated into two areas by a median dark patch. These two species can also be separated by the presence of the prominent black dash on the forewing of Peck's. The female Hobomok Skipper figured in Bird et al. (1995) is actually a female Peck's Skipper (N. Kondla, pers. comm.), See Layberry et al. (1998) for an illustration of a Hobomok female. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Alberta.
Scientific NamePoanes hobomokCommon Name
Hobomok Skipper
Habitat
Grassy openings in or near aspen forest.
Seasonality
There is one yearly generation, and adults are most commonly encountered in mid June.
Identification
Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius) is the only other skipper that shares the large, brown-bordered yellowish patch on the hindwing underside; in Hobomok the pale patch is continous throughout the median area, and in…
Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius) is the only other skipper that shares the large, brown-bordered yellowish patch on the hindwing underside; in Hobomok the pale patch is continous throughout the median area, and in Peck's this patch is separated into two areas by a median dark patch. These two species can also be separated by the presence of the prominent black dash on the forewing of Peck's. The female Hobomok Skipper figured in Bird et al. (1995) is actually a female Peck's Skipper (N. Kondla, pers. comm.), See Layberry et al. (1998) for an illustration of a Hobomok female. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Alberta.
Life History
The immature stages are incompletely known. Mature larvae are dark green to brown, with small, spine-bearing, tubercles, and the head is black and covered with white hairs (McCabe & Post 1977). Male Hobomok Skippers…
The immature stages are incompletely known. Mature larvae are dark green to brown, with small, spine-bearing, tubercles, and the head is black and covered with white hairs (McCabe & Post 1977). Male Hobomok Skippers perch on vegetation to await females (McCabe & Post 1977).
Conservation
This species has a limited range in Alberta. It is currently ranked S2 by ANHIC.
Diet Info
Most of the literature reports consist of vague references to 'grasses'; Layberry et al. (1998) include panic grass (Panicum spp.) and blue grass (Poa spp.). Adults nectar at daisy fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)…
Most of the literature reports consist of vague references to 'grasses'; Layberry et al. (1998) include panic grass (Panicum spp.) and blue grass (Poa spp.). Adults nectar at daisy fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) in eastern North Dakota (McCabe & Post 1977), and legumes such as vetches (Vicia spp.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in Saskatchewan (Hooper 1977).
Range
A species of the temperate woodlands of eastern North America, at its western range limit in central Alberta (Opler 1999).
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Citation
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Page Citation for Poanes hobomok
Page Citation
"Species Details - Poanes hobomok, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2592. Accessed 06 May. 2025.
References
AuthorOpler, Paul A.
TitleA field guide to western butterflies.
Publication Date1999
Pages540
AuthorBird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
TitleAlberta Butterflies
Publication Date1995
Pages349
AuthorMcCabe, T.L. and R.L. Post.
TitleSkippers (Hesperioidea) of North Dakota.
Publication Date1977
Pages70 pp.
AuthorLayberry, Ross A.; Hall, Peter W. and J. Donald LaFontaine
TitleThe Butterflies of Canada
Publication Date1998
Pages280
Specimen Information
There are 19 specimens of this Species.
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19 results plotted on map in 10 markers. Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.