A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Chase Lake Butterfly Survey
The Skippers
Common Checkered Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote), 1872 Habitat: Open, dry, sunny ground Larval food: Malvaceae Adult flight: Spring immigrants yield at least one additional brood References: Royer 18, Ferris & Brown 82, Scott 495 Confirmed occurrences: 27 Jun and 15 Aug 1995 in SW 1/4 S4 T142N R69W near Lake Louise. Common Sooty Wing Pholisora catullus (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Open spaces, bare soil, mud puddles, roadbeds Larval food: Goosefoots and Amaranths Adult flight: May-June and July-August References: Royer 18, Opler & Krizek 218, Scott 498 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995 or 1996, but on record for Stutsman and nearby counties, so a possible temporary resident in any year of strong southerly winds. Garita Skipperling Oarisma garita (Reakirt), 1866 Habitat: Open mid-grass prairie, likes legume and composite flowers Larval food: Native prairie grasses, incl. Stipa, Poa, Bouteloua Adult flight: One brood, Late May through June References: Royer 21, Ferris & Brown 137, Scott 431 Confirmed occurrences: 14 Jun, 27 Jun, and 3 Jul 1995 on transect CL001 and elsewhere in S4 T142N R69W; common both transects 26 Jun and 4 Jul 1996. Uncas Skipper Hesperia uncas (W. H. Edwards), 1878 Habitat: Native mid-grass to short-grass prairie hilltops Larval food: Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 22, Ferris & Brown 124, Scott 435 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but one male on transect CL001 on 9 Aug 1996. Common Branded Skipper Hesperia comma (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Prairie hilltops; very fond of Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses and sedges Adult flight: One brood, August References: Royer 23, Ferris & Brown 125, Scott 436 Confirmed occurrences: Common on 15 Aug 1995 throughout S4 T142N R69W; abundant, almost swarming, on 22 Aug 1996 throughout complex. Ottoe Skipper Hesperia ottoe (W. H. Edwards), 1866 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie hilltops on Echinacea blooms Larval food: Andropogon spp., also reported are Bouteloua, Stipa, Poa Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 23, Ferris & Brown 128, Scott 437 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible in shortgrass prairie hilltops in June and early July. Pawnee Skipper Hesperia pawnee Dodge, 1874 Habitat: Undisturbed, often sandy native prairies on Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses, esp. Bouteloua; Stipa, Poa also named in literature Adult flight: One brood, early August References: Royer 24, Ferris & Brown 129, Scott 438 Confirmed occurrences: common 15 Aug 1995 in eastern S4 T142N R69W; again common (especially on certain hilltops) on both transects and elsewhere in S4 T142N R69W, 22 Aug 1996. Dakota Skipper Hesperia dacotae (Skinner), 1911 Habitat: Mesic tall-grass to mid-grass native prairies with Zygadenus Larval food: Grasses, esp. Andropogon scoparius Adult flight: One brood, mid-June to early July References: Royer 25, Opler & Krizek 231, Scott 441 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible on northern slopes with Zygadenus in June and early July. Peck's Skipper Polites peckius (Kirby), 1837 Habitat: Meadows with higher humidity, esp. on clover or alfalfa blooms Larval food: Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), probably also Poa Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 26, Opler & Krizek 231, Scott 444 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible near wetlands in June and early July, especially at alfalfa blossoms. Tawny-edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille), 1824 Habitat: Meadows and road ditches, esp. on alfalfa blooms Larval food: Grasses, including Poa, Panicum Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 26, Opler & Krizek 234, Scott 445 Confirmed occurrences: 27 Jun 1995 in eastern S4 T142N R69W; one example on transect CL001, 4 Jul 1996. Crossline Skipper Polites origenes (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie, Echinacea blooms Larval food: Reportedly Purpletop (Tridens flavus); probably Andropogon in North Dakota Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 27, Opler & Krizek 234, Scott 446 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible on hilltops in late June and early July, especially at Echinacea and other composite blossoms. Long Dash Polites mystic (Edwards), 1863 Habitat: Marsh edges, wet meadows & ditches, esp. on alfalfa blooms Larval food: Grasses, incl. Poa, Agropyron, Phleum Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 27, Opler & Krizek 235, Scott 445 Confirmed occurrences: 27 Jun and 3 Jul 1995 in S4 T142N R69W; uncommon but present throughout both transects, 4 Jul through 2 Aug 1996. Arogos Skipper Atrytone arogos (Boisduval & LeConte), 1834 Habitat: Mesic, undisturbed tall- to mid-grass native bluestem prairies Larval food: Andropogon gerardii Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 29, Opler & Krizek 240, Scott 449 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible on northern bluestem slopes in late June and early July. Delaware Skipper Atrytone logan (Edwards), 1863 Habitat: Open grasslands; loves thistle blooms Larval food: Grasses, incl. Andropogon, Panicum, Erianthus Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 29, Opler & Krizek 241, Scott 449 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but one example on transect CL001 on 15 Jul 1996. Dun Skipper Euphyes ruricola (Boisduval),1852 (=vestris (Boisduval), 1852) Habitat: Pastures, Monarda stands, lower areas in prairie Larval food: Sedges, incl. various Carex spp., Cyperus esculentus Adult flight: One brood, July References: Royer 31, Opler & Krizek 252, Scott 456 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded at Chase Lake Complex in 1995, but possible in brushy areas and at Monarda stands throughout July. Dusted Skipper Atrytonopsis hianna (Scudder), 1868 Habitat: South-facing grassland slopes, bluestem prairies Larval food: Andropogon scoparius Adult flight: One brood, May into early June References: Royer 32, Opler & Krizek 253, Scott 457 Confirmed occurrences: 14 Jun 1995 on transect CL001 and in S10 T142N R69W (state trust land); again common 14 Jun 1996 on transect CL001.
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