Oarisma poweshiek
| Poweshiek skipperling | |
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| Species: | O. poweshiek
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| Binomial name | |
| Oarisma poweshiek (Parker, 1870)
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Oarisma poweshiek, the Poweshiek skipperling, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). The range of this species in Canada is restricted to southeastern Manitoba, and in the United States it historically ranged from the Dakotas to the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[2]
Description
Coloured dark brown on the upperside with an orange along the costa. The underside of the hindwings are dark grey with white veins.[2]
Wingspan is from 24 to 30 mm.[2]
Behaviour
The Poweshiek skipperling emerges in late June or early July and exists in the adult form for approximately a two-week period. During this time the skipperling nectars on a suite of flowers, mates and lays eggs. The larvae feed on graminoid plant species that possibly vary throughout the distribution of this species.[2]
Conservation status
The Poweshiek skipperling population crashed between 2005 and 2015, such that they are now facing extinction. In 2005 they were the most common prarrie butterfly. In 2018, efforts were being made to breed them in captivity, for release in the wild at some future date.[3][4]
References
- ^ Oarisma, funet.fi
- ^ a b c d Poweshiek Skipperling, Butterflies of Canada
- ^ http://mnzoo.org/conservation/minnesota/saving-minnesotas-prairie-butterfly-heritage/
- ^ "FLITTING AWAY", Kieth Methney, The Detroit Free Press, July 13 2018, page A1
External links
- Abdel-Razzaq, L. (November 17, 2013). "Michigan could be last hope for rare butterfly, feds say". The Detroit News.
- NatureServe. 2014. Oarisma poweshiek. NatureServe Explorer.
Further reading
- Swengel, A. B. and S. R. Swengel. (2014). Paradoxes of Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): Abundance patterns and management of a highly imperiled prairie species. ISRN Entomology 2014 216427.