A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
J. Clark Salyer NWR Butterfly Survey
The Skippers
Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus (Cramer), 1775 Habitat: Sunlit wooded clearings; Apocynum and Eleagnus 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: 9, 19 and 23 Jun 1995 on transect; 9 Jun 1995 along trail in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; 19 Jun 1995 along trail in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; 23 Jun 1995 by road in SW 1/4 S1 T158N R77W; common 11 Jun through 13 Jul 1996 on both 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: 9 Jun 1995 along trail in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; 19 Jun 1995 on transect and along trail in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; one example 20 Jun 1996 on transect CS001. 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: 30 May 1995 on transect, in tower area, and in sandhills, all S6 T158N R76W; also 9 Jun 1995 in S6 T158N R76W, in S1 T158N R77W, in S6 T159N R77W, and S12 T158N R76W; 11 Jun 1996 on both transects. Sleepy Dusky Wing Erynnis brizo (Boisduval & LeConte), 1834 Habitat: Oak woodlands Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa Adult flight: May References: Royer 16, Opler & Krizek 209, Scott 488 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but on record from oak forest in Bottineau County (Twisted Oaks Picnic Area), and should be watched for in May near oaks. 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: 9 Jun 1995 on transect and in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; 11 & 20 Jun 1996 on transect CS001. 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: Not recorded in 1995, but one example 20 Jun 1996 On transect CS002. 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 in 1995 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but on record from McHenry County just east of refuge, and probable any year in open areas. Least Skipper Ancyloxypha numitor (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Stream margins, swamps, open water Larval food: Aquatic grasses Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 20, Opler & Krizek 222, Scott 431 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in 1995 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but on record 9 Jul 1986 (vouchered Royer) from S31 T159N R76W. 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 23 Jun 1995 on transect CS001. 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 in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but possible in drier prairies in June or August. Common Branded Skipper Hesperia comma (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Prairie hilltops; very fond of Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses, esp. Andropogon Adult flight: One brood, August References: Royer 23, Ferris & Brown 125, Scott 436 Confirmed occurrences: 9 Aug 1995 on transect and NE 1/4 S6 T158N R76W; 15 Aug 1996 on transect CS002. Ottoe Skipper Hesperia ottoe (W. H. Edwards), 1866 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie hilltops on Echinacea blooms Larval food: Native grasses, incl. Andropogon, Bouteloua, Stipa, Poa also named in literature Adult flight: One brood, mid-June into July References: Royer 23, Ferris & Brown 128, Scott 437 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but possible in drier prairies in June. Pawnee Skipper Hesperia pawnee (Dodge), 1874 Habitat: Undisturbed, often sandy native prairies on Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses, incl. Bouteloua, Stipa, Poa also named in literature Adult flight: One brood, early August References: Royer 24, Ferris & Brown 129, Scott 438 Confirmed occurrences: 9 Aug 1995 on transect, NE 1/4 S6 T158N R76W, NW 1/4 S5 T158N R76W, and NW 1/4 S12 T158N R76W; common 15 Aug 1996 on transect CS002; present but less common 15 Aug 1996 on transect CS001. Dakota Skipper Hesperia dacotae (Skinner), 1911 Habitat: Mesic tall-grass to mid-grass native prairies with Andropogon, Stipa, and blooming of Zygadenus, Lilium, Echinacea 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 in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but patchily distributed throughout McHenry County, including areas just south and east of refuge, and therefore possible in mesic prairies in late June or 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 in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but probable in low prairies in June, especially near alfalfa or clover 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: 23 Jun 1995 mud-basking on road in SW 1/4 S1 T158N R77W. Crossline Skipper Polites origenes (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Ungrazed native prairie, Echinacea blooms Larval food: 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 in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but possible in drier prairies in June. 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 recorded in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but generally ubiquitous in low prairies in mid-June to mid-July, especially near alfalfa or clover blooms. 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 in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, very unlikely, but on record from Ward County, and remotely possible in bluestem prairies in late June through mid-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 in 1995 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but one example 13 Jul 1996 on transect CS002. 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: 9 and 19 June 1995 in S6 T158N R76W and S36 T159N R77W. 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: 28 Jul 1995 S5 and S6 T158N R76W; 13 Jul 1996 on transect CS001. 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: Not recorded in 1995 or 1996 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but on one female 16 May 1987 vouchered Royer) nectaring Wallflower just south of tower in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W. 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: Not recorded in 1995 at J. Clark Salyer NWR, but not uncommon in previous years, e.g., 13 May 1987 in NW 1/4 S6 T158N R76W and eastward in sandhills area (vouchered Royer); also one example 11 Jun 1996 on transect CS001.
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