A Comprehensive Annotated List of the Butterflies
Sheyenne National Grassland Butterfly Survey
The Gossamer Wings
Harvester Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, especially near water Larval food: Carnivorous on wooly aphids (Prociphilus, Neoprociphilus, Schizoneura, Pemphigus), usually those found on alders (Alnus). Adult flight: Precocious southward, but probably two broods in ND References: Royer 46, Opler & Krizek 81, Scott 356 Confirmed occurrences: Rare in ND. Historically from Cass and Pembina Counties, with only one recent record on private land near Mirror Pool Woods (Ransom County) S1 T135N R53W, 12 July 1991 (Vouchered Royer). Should be expected in the RNA exclosure woodland in S2 T135N R53W and similar habitats. Great Copper Gaeides xanthoides (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Prairie meadows, ditches, disturbed areas Larval food: Rumex obtusifolius Adult flight: One brood, late June through July References: Royer 47, Opler & Krizek 83, Scott 391 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Richland and Dickey Counties and possible in any meadow in the vicinity of Rumex. Bronze Copper Hyllolycaena hyllus (Cramer), 1775 Habitat: Open wet meadows with Polygonum or Rumex, pond margins, marshes, usually with neutral to alkaline soil pH Larval food: Rumex crispus, R. obiculatus, Polygonum spp. Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 47, Opler & Krizek 84, Scott 388 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Richland, Ransom and Sargent Counties and possible in any marshy area or wet meadow in the vicinity of Rumex or Polygonum. Purplish Copper Epidemia helloides (Boisduval), 1852 Habitat: Wastelands, wet ditches, open fields; a vagile species Larval food: Rumex spp., Polygonum spp. Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 49, Opler & Krizek 86, Scott 389 Confirmed occurrences: 12 Jun 1995 in S14 T134N R54W. Coral Hairstreak Harkenclenus titus (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Scrub, esp. with Prunus, Crataegus and Asclepias Larval food: Prunus spp. Adult flight: One brood, July into August References: Royer 50, Opler & Krizek 89, Scott 360 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom and Richland Counties and possible in brushy areas or woodlands, especially at Asclepias blooms in the vicinity of Prunus or other Rosaceae. Acadian Hairstreak Satyrium acadicum (Fabricius), 1793 Habitat: Willow scrub in moist areas Larval food: Salix spp. Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 50, Opler & Krizek 90, Scott 361 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from both Ransom and Richland Counties and possible in any lowland area or wetland, especially at Asclepias incarnata blooms or in the vicinity of Salix spp. Edwards' Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii (Grote & Robinson), 1867 Habitat: Scrub oak thickets, esp. in sandy or gravelly areas Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa in our area Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 51, Opler & Krizek 91, Scott 364 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom and Richland Counties and possible in woodlands, especially at Asclepias blooms in the vicinity of Quercus. Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus (Hübner), 1809 Habitat: Oak woodlands Larval food: Quercus macrocarpa in ND, also Juglans, Carya elsewhere Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 51, Opler & Krizek 92, Scott 363 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom and Richland Counties and possible in woodlands, especially at Asclepias blooms in the vicinity of Quercus. Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops (LeConte), 1833 Habitat: Oak woodlands, wooded breaks or thickets that include Amelanchier, Prunus, Crataegus; especially fond of Melilotus alba, Gypsophila blooms Larval food: Rosaceae, incl. Prunus, Crataegus, Amelanchier, etc. Adult flight: One brood, late June, July References: Royer 52, Opler & Krizek 94, Scott 362 Confirmed occurrences: 2 Jul 1995 on east side of cattle exclosure (RNA) in S2 T135N R53W. Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Hübner), 1818 Habitat: Brushy, weedy disturbed open areas; occasional Larval food: Widely varied, incl. Astragalus, Polygonum, Malva Adult flight: Two or three broods, May, July, September References: Royer 54, Ferris & Brown 264, Scott 383 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible anytime in scrubby areas at flowers. Eastern Tailed Blue Everes comyntas (Godart), 1824 Habitat: Humid open areas with legumes in eastern ND Larval food: Many legumes, incl. Trifolium, Vicia, Melilotus Adult flight: Three broods, May, July, September References: Royer 55, Opler & Krizek 114, Scott 395 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record for both Richland and Ransom Counties and possible anytime along sunlit woodland roadsides or in other wet to mesic areas with legumes. Spring Azure Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus), 1758 Habitat: Most often associated with Amelanchier blooms in spring, Cornus in summer Larval food: Prunus in west; Cornus, Viburnum, etc. in north and east. This is actually a complex of sibling species the systematics of which are currently being worked out. We probably have two species in ND, differentiated by their larval hosts. Adult flight: The eastern taxon is bivoltine, flying in May and again in July; the western taxon is univoltine, flying only in May. References: Royer 56, Ferris & Brown 221, Opler & Krizek 116, Scott 396 Confirmed occurrences: Both broods confirmed: 18 May 1995 in SW4 S6 T134N R53W; 26 Jun and 2 Jul 1995 in E1/2 S12 T 135N R53W and at Cornus in SW1/4 S2 135N R53W. Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Doubleday), 1841 Habitat: Open areas in or near woodlands Larval food: Legumes, incl. Lupinus, Astragalus, Hedysarum Adult flight: Widespread, late May through June, one brood only References: Royer 56, Opler & Krizek 119, Scott 399 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom County, and possible anywhere in the grassland in May and early June. Melissa Blue Lycaeides melissa (Doubleday), 1841 Habitat: Open prairies Larval food: Legumes, incl. Lupinus, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Glycyrrhiza Adult flight: Two broods, June and August References: Royer 56, Ferris & Brown 202, Scott 407 Confirmed occurrences: Occasional throughout grassland during 1995: 13 Jun 1995 in S1/2 S20 and N1/2 S29 T135N R52W; 25 July 1995 in NW4 S35 T135N R54W; 26 Jun 1995 in N1/2 S27 T134N R54W and NW4 S35 T135N R54W; and 2 Jul 1995 NW4 S35 T135N R54W.
Previous Section -- Sheyenne National Grassland Butterflies -The Whites and Sulphurs (Family Pieridae)
Return to Contents
Next Section -- Sheyenne National Grassland Butterflies -The Brush-footed Butterflies(Family Nymphalidae)
