A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Little Missouri National Grassland Butterfly Survey
The Skippers
Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), 1775 Habitat: Sunlit wooded clearings; Apocynum blooms Larval food: Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) Adult flight: One brood in June and early July References: Royer 14, Opler & Krizek 199, Scott 470 Confirmed occurrences: 19 Jun and 24 Jul 1995 S13 T136N R102W; 27 Jun 1995 on Summit transect; 10 Jul 1995 in S24 T147N R99W; 18 Jul 1995 in Blue Buttes; 25 Jul and 1 Aug 1995 on Summit transect S001; 18 & 29 Jun on Summit transect S001, and on 9 Jul 1996 on both Summit transects. Northern Cloudy Wing Thorybes pylades (Scudder), 1870 Habitat: Widespread in forested areas; Eleagnus, Apocynum blooms Larval food: Legumes Adult flight: Late May, June References: Royer 15, Opler & Krizek 204, Scott 479 Confirmed occurrences: 19 and 26 Jun 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 6 Jun 1995 on Summit transect; 20 and 27 Jun 1995 on Summit transect and in S24 T147N R99W; 1 Jul 1995 in S24 T147N R99W; occasional on both Summit transects, 18 & 29 Jun 1996. Dreamy Dusky Wing Erynnis icelus (Scudder & Burgess), 1870 Habitat: Aspen woodlands Larval food: Salix, Populus Adult flight: May References: Royer 15, Opler & Krizek 208, Scott 487 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Dunn County and should be sought in McKenzie County during May near aspen stands. Juvenal's Dusky Wing Erynnis juvenalis (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Oak woodlands Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa Adult flight: May References: Royer 16, Opler & Krizek 209, Scott 488 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Dunn County and should be sought in McKenzie County during May in oak stands. Afranius Dusky Wing Erynnis afranius (Lintner), 1878 Habitat: Aspen woodlands; more widespread in western counties Larval food: Thermopsis rhombifolia, probably other legumes Adult flight: Two broods, in May and July References: Royer 16, Ferris & Brown 79, Scott 493 Confirmed occurrences: 5 Jun 1995 in S13 T136N R102W; 24 and 31 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and along road in S13 T136N R102W; 29 May and 5 Jun 1995 on Summit transect and in S24 T147N R99W; 1 Aug 1995 in S24 T147N R99W. Persius Dusky Wing Erynnis persius (Scudder), 1863 Habitat: Aspen woodlands, rare Larval food: Thermopsis, Astragalus, Lupinus Adult flight: May References: Royer 17, Ferris & Brown 80, Scott 492 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn County and should be sought in McKenzie County during May near aspen woodlands, especially near Thermopsis rhombifolia. Small Checkered Skipper Pyrgus scriptura (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Far western badlands; a few late summer records Larval food: Malvaceae: Sida, Sphaeralcea Adult flight: Unconfirmed, but probably two broods, in June and August References: Royer 17, Ferris & Brown 82, Scott 495 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from McKenzie, Dunn and Slope Counties and should be sought during late summer in badlands habitat. 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: 31 Jul and 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect, elsewhere in S13 and S14 T136N R102W; 7 Aug 1996 on Summit transect S002. 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: 31 Jul 1995 on BCV transect. Mohave Sooty Wing Pholisora libya (Scudder), 1878 Habitat: Far western badlands in Atriplex flats Larval food: Goosefoots and Amaranths Adult flight: May-June and July-August References: Royer 18, Ferris & Brown 82, Scott 495 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Golden Valley, Billings and Slope Counties and should be sought during late summer in Atriplex flats. 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: 19 and 26 Jun 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 20 Jun 1995 on Summit transect and S24 T147N R99W; 18 & 29 Jun and 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S001. Rhesus Skipper Yvretta rhesus (W. H. Edwards), 1878 Habitat: Rare, SW in badlands, likes bare soil, bunchgrass prairie Larval food: Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: One brood, May References: Royer 22, Ferris & Brown 133, Scott 434 Confirmed occurrences: 6 Jun 1995 on Summit transect (one female, McKenzie County record and furthest NE in state). 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 reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from all badlands counties and should be expected in dry grasslands, especially on hilltops, in any year. 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: 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; common in vicinity of Summit transect S002 on 19 Aug 1996. Ottoe Skipper Hesperia ottoe (W. H. Edwards), 1866 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie hilltops on Echinacea blooms Larval food: Native grasses, esp. Andropogon; Bouteloua, Stipa, Poa also mentioned in literature Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 23, Ferris & Brown 128, Scott 437 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from all badlands counties where it should be expected at times to be common in dry grasslands, especially on hilltops, in any year. Pawnee Skipper Hesperia pawnee (Dodge), 1874 Habitat: Undisturbed, often sandy native prairies on Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses, esp. Bouteloua; Stipa, Poa also mentioned in literature Adult flight: One brood, early August References: Royer 24, Ferris & Brown 129, Scott 438 Confirmed occurrences: 31 Jul and 17 Aug 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W. Pahaska Skipper Hesperia pahaska (Leussler), 1938 Habitat: Shortgrass prairie, southwestern ND; often on Cirsium blooms Larval food: Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: One brood, June References: Royer 24, Ferris & Brown 130, Scott 438 Confirmed occurrences: 26 Jun, 2 Jul and 24 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W. 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 reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and far eastern McKenzie Counties and should be sought in the Blue Buttes and surrounding area during late June and early July in mesic bluestem prairie hills, especially in the vicinity of Echinacea stands. 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 reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties and may be expected from mid-June through July in low prairie areas; especially easy to find at alfalfa blooms. 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: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties and may be expected from mid-June through July in mesic prairie areas; especially easy to find at alfalfa blooms. Crossline Skipper Polites origenes (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie, Echinacea blooms Larval food: Reportedly Purpletop (Tridens flavus), probably Andropogons in North Dakota Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 27, Opler & Krizek 234, Scott 446 Confirmed occurrences: 31 Jul 1995 in S13 T136N R102W; 27 Jun on Summit transect and in S24 T147N R99W. 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: Not reported from Little Missouri National Grassland in 1995 or 1996, but on record from Dunn and Slope Counties and may be expected from mid-June through July in low prairie areas; especially easy to find at alfalfa blooms. 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: 17 and 24 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and in S13 T136N R102W; 10 and 18 Jul 1995 on Summit transect S001. Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Shady, moist woodlands and chaparral; in mountains to 8,500 feet. An avid flower visitor, especially at late summer asters. Larval food: Unknown, undoubtedly grasses. Adult flight: One brood, mid-July through August References: Ferris & Brown 106, Scott 450 Confirmed occurrences: one female, 20 Aug 1996 near the 400 meter point on transect S002 (vouchered; state record for North Dakota). Hobomok Skipper Poanes hobomok (Harris), 1862 Habitat: Shady woodlands with moist soil, Matronalis, Apocynum Larval food: Grasses, incl. Panicum, Poa Adult flight: One brood, June References: Royer 30, Opler & Krizek 244, Scott 453 Confirmed occurrences: 20 Jun 1995 on Summit transect; 27 Jun 1995 in S24 T147N R99W; occasional on both Summit transects, 18 & 29 Jun 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: 18 Jul, 25 Jul and 1 Aug 1995 on Summit transect and in S24 T147N R99W; scarce on 9 Jul 1996 on both Summit transects. 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: 5 Jun 1995 on BCV transect; occasional on both Summit transects, 18 Jun 1996. Oslar's Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes oslari (Skinner), 1899 Habitat: Streambeds, dry hillsides and watersheds in badlands Larval food: Bouteloua gracilis Adult flight: One brood, early June References: Royer 32, Ferris & Brown 93, Scott 459 Confirmed occurrences: Not reported in 1995, but one example on 9 Jul 1996 on Summit transect S002. Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis (Edwards), 1862 Habitat: Woodland roadsides, glens; fond of Apocynum blooms Larval food: Grasses, incl. Poa, Avena, Agrostis Adult flight: One brood, May and early June References: Royer 32, Opler & Krizek 258, Scott 463 Confirmed occurrences: 28 May 1995 in S13 T136N R102W; fairly common on Summit transect S001, 5 & 18 Jun 1996. Texas Giant Skipper Megathymus texanus (Barnes & McDunnough), 1912 Habitat: Badlands hillsides with Yucca glauca Larval food: Bores in roots of Yucca glauca Adult flight: One brood, May and early June References: Royer 33, Ferris & Brown 143, Scott 418 Confirmed occurrences: 19 Jun, 26 Jun (peak), 2 Jul, and 17 Jul 1995 on BCV transect and elsewhere in S13 T136N R102W.
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