Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but historically on record from woodland sites in both Richland and Ransom County portions of the grassland. 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: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible in oak woodlands. 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 recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible in woodland sites near aspen. 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 the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible in oak woodlands. 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 recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible in oak woodlands. Common Checkered Skipper Pyrgus communis (Grote), 1872 Habitat: Open, dry, sunny ground Larval food: Malvaceae Adult flight: Spring immigrants typically yield one additional brood References: Royer 18, Ferris & Brown 82, Scott 495 Confirmed occurrences: 16 Aug 1995 on transect. 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: 16 Aug 1995 in parking lot at head of transect. 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: 26 Jun 1995, NW4 of NE4, S12 T135N R53W at south end of Mirror Pool Woods. Powesheik Skipperling Oarisma powesheik (Parker), 1870 Habitat: Virgin fresh tallgrass meadows Larval food: Unknown sedge or grass, possibly Eleocharis Adult flight: One brood, Late June to early July References: Royer 20, Opler & Krizek 223, Scott 431 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded within the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but historically on record throughout the grassland in the McLeod area and confirmed at Stack Slough NWR (Richland County) by (28 Jun and 4 Jul 1995, Tim Orwig/TNC/FWS). This species has become very rare in recent years and should be considered particularly sensitive whenever encountered. 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: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom County. Pawnee Skipper Hesperia pawnee (Dodge), 1874 Habitat: Undisturbed, often sandy native prairies on Liatris blooms Larval food: Native grasses, incl. Bouteloua, Stipa, Poa Adult flight: One brood, early August References: Royer 24, Ferris & Brown 129, Scott 438 Confirmed occurrences: 16 Aug 1995 on transect and NW1/2 S12 T134N R54W. 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: The only occurrences reported in 1995 actually on SNG lands were 26 Jun and 2 Jul 1995 in S35 T135N R54W. The following occurrences were also reported at the Brown Ranch (private lands adjacent to or near Sheyenne National Grassland): 29 Jun 1995 (NW4 S9, T133N R53W--T. Orwig/TNC/FWS), 1 Jul 1995 (SW4 S28, T134N R53W--T. Orwig/TNC/FWS), 2 Jul 1995 (NE4 S5, T133N R53W--T. Orwig/TNC/FWS), 2 Jul 1995 (SE4 S5, T133N R53W--T. Orwig/TNC/FWS). 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: 26 Jun 1995 in SW4 of SW4 S1 T134N R54W, and 2 Jul 1995 in NW4 S 35 T134N R54W. 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: 25 and 26 Jun 1995 on transect, SW4 of SW4 S1 T134N R54W, and NW4 S 35 T134N R54W; 2 Jul 1995 in SW4 of SW4 S1 T134N R54W and NW4 S 35 T134N R54W. 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: Ubiquitous throughout the grassland, 25 and 26 Jun, and 2 Jul 1995. Northern Broken Dash Wallengrenia egeremet (Scudder), 1864 Habitat: Clearings in or near woodlands, esp. on white or pink flowers Larval food: Panic grasses, Panicum Adult flight: One brood, late June through July References: Royer 28, Opler & Krizek 237, Scott 447 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record from Ransom County and possible in open oak woodlands and especially at Asclepias blooms throughout the grassland in any year. 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 the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but on record historically throughout the grassland in the McLeod area. This species has become very rare in recent years and should be considered particularly sensitive. 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: 2 Jul 1995 in ditch, SW4 of SW4 S1 T134N R54W. Mulberry Wing Poanes massasoit (Scudder), 1864 Habitat: Woody hummock sedge meadows with Carex stricta, Cornus Larval food: Carex stricta Adult flight: One brood, July References: Royer 30, Opler & Krizek 243, Scott 451 Confirmed occurrences: Not recorded in the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but confirmed by Tim Orwig at Sheldon Seep (S14 T135N R54W). Historically on record from Mirror Pool WMA (recently flooded out) and several private sites in the Sheyenne Delta area. Should be expected in the RNA exclosure fen in S2 T135N R53W, especially at the lower end of this watershed outside the exclosure (heavily overgrazed in 1995 -- should be included in exclosure to protect this species as well as P. viator). 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: 13 Jun 1995 in S2 T135N R53W (female form "pocahontas"), 26 Jun 1995 in E1/2 S12 T153N R53W, and 2 Jul 1995 in S2 T135N R53W. Broad-winged Skipper Poanes viator (Edwards), 1865 Habitat: Oxbow marshes with Carex lacustris, Asclepias incarnata Larval food: Carex lacustris Adult flight: One brood, July References: Royer 31, Opler & Krizek 246, Scott 451 Confirmed occurrences: Historically on record from Mirror Pool WMA (recently flooded out) and several private sites in the Sheyenne Delta area. Should be expected in the RNA exclosure fen in S2 T135N R53W, especially at the lower end of this watershed outside the exclosure (heavily overgrazed in 1995 -- should be included in exclosure to protect this species as well as P. massasoit). Dion Skipper Euphyes dion (Edwards), 1879 Habitat: Rare; lush marshes with Carex, Typha, Asclepias incarnata Larval food: Carex lacustris, probably other Carex, possibly Scirpus Adult flight: One brood, July References: Royer 31, Opler & Krizek 249, Scott 455 Confirmed occurrences: There are only five known records for this species for ND (four vouchered Royer); the first in Mirror Pool main pond just south of S36 T136N R53W. Others, at Bohnsack Wetland and vicinity of Pigeon Point, suggest that it should be listed here and sought in the cattle-exclosed fen in S2 T135N R53W. 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: 31 Jul 1995 at south end of Mirror Pool Woods, in NE4 S12 T135N R 53W. 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: Common 12 and 13 Jun 1995 on transect and elsewhere in N1/2 of S27 T134N R54W. 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 the Sheyenne National Grassland in 1995, but possible in woodland clearings and roadsides.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
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Sioux Falls, SD [sdww55]
