A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Little Missouri National Grassland Butterfly Survey
The Saytyrs & Wood Nymphs
Northern Pearly Eye Enodia anthedon Clark, 1936 Habitat: Deep, shady woodlands; often perches on trunks; drinks sap Larval food: Grasses, incl. Leersia, Hystix, Phalaris, Schizachne Adult flight: One brood in July References: Royer 80, Opler & Krizek 176, Scott 234 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn County, and could be encountered in rich, shady ash woodlands in the northern badlands. Northern Eyed Brown Satyrodes eurydice (Johansson), 1763 Habitat: Open sedge meadows and marshlands Larval food: Primarily Carex spp. Adult flight: One brood, primarily in July References: Royer 80, Opler & Krizek 178, Scott 235 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties, and possible (but unlikely) in permanently wet meadows. Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela (Cramer), 1777 Habitat: Shady woodlands, in ND often near hazel stands Larval food: Dactylis glomerata, doubtless other grass species Adult flight: One brood, primarily in June References: Royer 81, Opler & Krizek 184, Scott 237 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties, and could be encountered in rich, shady ash woodlands in the northern badlands. Inornate Ringlet Coenonympha inornata Edwards, 1861 Habitat: Open, grassy meadows and native prairies Larval food: Doubtless many grass species are utilized Adult flight: One brood, primarily in late May and June References: Royer 81, Opler & Krizek 186, Scott 239 (as tullia) Confirmed occurrences: 5 Jun through 2 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; common to abundant, 5-27 Jun 1995 on transect and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; abundant 18 & 29 Jun 1996 on both Summit transects. Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala (Fabricius), 1775 Habitat: Native prairies and grasslands Larval food: Andropogon, Stipa; many grasses are no doubt utilized Adult flight: One brood, primarily in July and August References: Royer 82, Opler & Krizek 186, Scott 240 Confirmed occurrences: abundant 2 Jul through 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; also common to abundant, 10 Jul through 1 Aug 1995 on transect and elsewhere in S24 T147N R99W; common on both Summit transects from early Jul through mid-Aug 1996. Mead's Wood Nymph Cercyonis meadii (W. H. Edwards), 1872 Habitat: Badlands canyons, often found with 2nd brood Icaricia acmon at the blooms of Eriogonum on eroded badlands slopes Larval food: Unknown, probably Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: One brood, primarily in August References: Royer 83, Ferris & Brown 274, Scott 242 Confirmed occurrences: Common on 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; occasional on both Summit transects, 7 Aug 1996. Dark Wood Nymph Cercyonis oetus (Boisduval), 1869 Habitat: Open woodlands and sage flats in badlands Larval food: Unknown grass sp. Adult flight: One brood, July into August References: Royer 83, Ferris & Brown 275, Scott 242 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported in 1995, but one very fresh male on 9 Jul 1996 at 600 meters on Summit transect S001. Ridings' Satyr Neominois ridingsii (W. H. Edwards), 1865 Habitat: Dry bunchgrass ridges; not seen in ND since mid-1970s Larval food: Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: One brood, mid-June References: Royer 84, Ferris & Brown 282, Scott 242 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, and believed possibly extinct in North Dakota, where it is historically on record from Dunn, Stark, Slope and Hettinger Counties. Last known records are from White Butte and Stark County north of Dickinson in the late 1970s. Varuna Arctic Oeneis uhleri varuna (W. H. Edwards), 1882 Habitat: TL = "Plains of Dakota Territory"; well drained prairie slopes Larval food: Unknown grass sp. Adult flight: One brood, mid-May into June References: Royer 84, Ferris & Brown 284, Scott 250 Confirmed occurrences: Abundant on 5 Jun 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; also common on 5 and 6 Jun 1995 on Summit transect S001 and in S24 T147N R99W; 5 Jun 1996 on Summit transect S001. Alberta Arctic Oeneis alberta Elwes, 1893 Habitat: Virgin prairies in isolated colonies; rare; early May Larval food: Festuca spp. Adult flight: One brood, early to middle May References: Royer 84, Ferris & Brown 286, Scott 249 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, and extremely rare in North Dakota. It is historically on record (and questionable) from Dunn and Billings Counties in the badlands. The only presently known ND populations are in McHenry and Burleigh Counties.
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