# Umber Skipper (*Lon melane*) The Umber Skipper is a small butterfly with brown wings and orange spots. They love to flutter around flowers, sipping sweet nectar and spreading joy in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Umber Skipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Poanes_melane_%289082154246%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poanes_melane_%289082154246%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Umber Skipper has stout, fuzzy dark brown to blackish wings, sometimes with a faint orange-brown flush or small translucent spots. Its robust body and relatively small wings distinguish it from typical butterflies, giving it a somewhat moth-like appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Lon ## Interesting facts - Skippers have antennae with a hooked club at the end, making them unique from other butterflies! - Their tiny eggs are carefully laid one by one on specific grass plants for their hungry babies. - They often rest with their front and back wings held at different angles, ready for a quick escape! - Umber Skippers are named for their rapid, skipping, and darting flight motion! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Dash:** Umber Skipper can fly in super-fast, zig-zagging bursts because of powerful wing muscles that help them escape predators. - **Nectar Sipper:** Umber Skipper has a long, straw-like proboscis that helps them drink sweet nectar from deep inside flowers. - **Stealthy Blending:** Umber Skipper can disappear into shadows because its dark, mottled wings help them camouflage against bark and leaves. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on grass! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat specific grasses, while adults drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, California Buckeye nectar, thistle nectar, Poa grass, Elymus grass - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Larvae feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [California Buckeye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-buckeye) (*Aesculus californica*) — Adults drink its nectar. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common bird predator. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Umber Skipper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Umber Skipper's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Umber Skipper? 15-25 mm ### How long does Umber Skipper live? 15-30 days ### How fast can Umber Skipper fly? 20 km/h ### What does Umber Skipper eat? Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on grass! ### Where is Umber Skipper usually found? Grasslands ### How does Umber Skipper hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Sonoma Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Happy Hollow Park & Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/happy-hollow-park-and-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Selig Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/selig-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Berkeley Rose Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkeley-rose-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Carroll Avenue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carroll-avenue) — California, US · Historic District - [Historic Core](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/historic-core) — California, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Umber Skipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/umber-skipper) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Umber Skipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/umber-skipper)