Hesperia colorado tildeni

Tilden's Western Branded Skipper

This skipper is easily found taking nectar in the Frazier Park/Mt Piños area in the late summer and into October. It flies in the Temblor and Sierra Madre ranges in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties to the west, and east in the Tehachapis as well. Tildeni was described from the Cherry Flat Reservoir east of San Jose. At first, it was considered a full species; you may also see it as a subspecies of comma.

Hesperia colorado tildeni
Hesperia colorado tildeni from the Frazier Park area. August 16, 2019.
Hesperia colorado tildeni
A male Hesperia colorado from McGill Trail, Mt Piños, Los Padres National Forest, August 7, 2007.
Hesperia colorado tildeni
I'm guessing we have both sexes here; love is in the air. McGill Trail, Mt Piños, Los Padres National Forest, August 7, 2007.
Hesperia colorado tildeni
Here's the original desscription of tildeni, from the Lepidopterists' News in 1955.

©Dennis Walker