Wingspan: 2.5-2.8 cm.
Flight time: Univoltine, with adults flying from late June to late July. Rarely individuals have been observed emerging as early as mid June and as late as mid August.
Status: Rare breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: This squarish skipper is dark brown above with a golden forewing edge. The hindwing below is overscaled in white and has distinctive white veins contrasted to a dark anal margin. Females are slightly smaller and less distinctively marked.
Distribution and habitat: Although collections made prior to 1920 document this species as far south as Woodbury and Poweshiek counties, extant populations are today limited to the northern 2 tiers of counties. This species is limited to high quality, wet-mesic to xeric native prairie sites. Populations have proven susceptible to fire management, and may no longer be present on sites where they were seen as recently as a decade ago. The 2004 flight was absent in many of the known preserve sites, making it’s future in Iowa precarious.
Natural History: Larvae were observed feeding on Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) at Cayler Prairie, but also feed on big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) in the lab. The type location for this species was designated in 1870 as a prairie slope at Grinnell in Poweshiek County. It has not been observed there since. Populations have decreased at Cayler Prairie and other managed prairies in the state in the late 1980's, and may be on the verge of disappearing from both Howard County sites (Crossman and Hayden prairies). These isolated population reductions began following the reintroduction of fire to these sites, and fire has been shown to cause high levels of mortality in Wisconsin populations (Borkin 1995).
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
308718 | 2008-07-04 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.133888 -93.457017 | Jerry Selby | 1 |
58620 | 2007-06-29 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
58621 | 2007-06-19 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
58619 | 2005-07-05 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
58625 | 2005-06-23 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Jerry Selby | 3 |
58612 | 2005-06-22 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
58616 | 2003-07-01 | Highway 60 MN-IA | Iowa | 43.4968 -95.6956 | Jessica Ski Davis | 1 |
58611 | 2002-07-07 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Frank Olsen | 4 |
202691 | 2000-07-05 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.396071 -95.243564 | Jerry Selby | 62 |
202690 | 2000-07-04 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.396071 -95.243564 | Jerry Selby | 58 |
58626 | 1995-07-02 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Kirk Larsen | 2 |
58648 | 1994-07-11 | Wolter's Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.773263 -92.71744 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58567 | 1994-07-06 | Anderson Prairie State Preserve, Emmet County | Iowa | 43.441 -94.8724 | Mike Saunders | 15 |
58585 | 1994-07-06 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Mike Saunders | 4 |
247047 | 1994-07-05 | Flotte Prairie | Iowa | 43.379326 -95.18594 | Mike Saunders | 6 |
107474 | 1994-07-05 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mike Saunders | 1 |
247046 | 1994-06-29 | Waterman Creek/Little Sioux River | Iowa | 42.98075 -95.42679 | Mike Saunders | 150 |
107476 | 1994-06-29 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58594 | 1994-06-26 | Florenceville Prairie | Iowa | 43.4546 -92.1269 | Mike Saunders | 25 |
58636 | 1994-06-23 | Spring Run State Game Management Area | Iowa | 43.427403 -95.062584 | Mike Saunders | 5 |
58615 | 1993-07-25 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58638 | 1993-07-25 | Stinson Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.046817 -94.325983 | Mike Saunders | 2 |
58617 | 1993-07-21 | Highway 60 MN-IA | Iowa | 43.4968 -95.6956 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58618 | 1993-07-21 | Highway 60 MN-IA | Iowa | 43.4968 -95.6956 | Mike Saunders | 2 |
58647 | 1993-07-21 | Wolter's Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.773263 -92.71744 | Mike Saunders | 3 |
58632 | 1993-07-19 | Christopherson Slough | Iowa | 43.475 -94.9355 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
107467 | 1993-07-19 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Mike Saunders | 3 |
247045 | 1993-07-19 | Little Swan Lake | Iowa | 43.463953 -94.952366 | Mike Saunders | 25 |
58566 | 1993-07-18 | Anderson Prairie State Preserve, Emmet County | Iowa | 43.441 -94.8724 | Mike Saunders | 5 |
58628 | 1993-07-18 | Kettleson Hogsback Waterfowl Production Area | Iowa | 43.462554 -95.127277 | Mike Saunders | 5 |
58630 | 1993-07-18 | Lakeville Prairie | Iowa | 43.42 -95.2682 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58650 | 1993-07-18 | Wuedker Prairie | Iowa | 43.4142 -95.2699 | Mike Saunders | 10 |
107477 | 1993-07-18 | Dugout Creek Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.406235 -95.312818 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
107478 | 1993-07-18 | Dugout Creek Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.406235 -95.312818 | Mike Saunders | 2 |
315882 | 1993-07-18 | Chipera Prairie Park | Iowa | 43.13186 -92.009154 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58574 | 1993-07-13 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Mike Saunders | 150 |
107462 | 1993-07-13 | Highway18 Railroad Property | Iowa | 43.1121 -93.5678 | Mike Saunders | 2 |
58627 | 1993-07-12 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58644 | 1993-07-07 | Watertower Prairie | Iowa | 43.378009 -95.185811 | Mike Saunders | 1 |
58600 | 1993-07-03 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Mike Saunders | 4 |
58599 | 1993-07-02 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Mike Saunders | 10 |
58575 | 1992-07-18 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 2 |
58579 | 1992-07-18 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58586 | 1992-07-18 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Tim Orwig | 2 |
58589 | 1992-07-18 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58604 | 1992-07-18 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58605 | 1992-07-18 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58640 | 1991-06-24 | Telford Prairie | Iowa | 43.065 -94.7914 | Ron Harms | 1 |
58641 | 1991-06-24 | Telford Prairie | Iowa | 43.065 -94.7914 | Ron Harms | 1 |
58642 | 1991-06-24 | Telford Prairie | Iowa | 43.065 -94.7914 | Ron Harms | 1 |
58580 | 1989-07-08 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58613 | 1989-07-02 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107464 | 1989-07-02 | Howard County | Iowa | 43.360011 -92.288378 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58601 | 1989-06-25 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Ron Harms | 4 |
58602 | 1989-06-25 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Ron Harms | 1 |
58603 | 1989-06-25 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Ron Harms | 1 |
58576 | 1988-06-30 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 2 |
58577 | 1988-06-30 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58578 | 1988-06-30 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58587 | 1988-06-27 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58588 | 1988-06-27 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58590 | 1988-06-27 | Fairview Prairie Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.4448 -95.4209 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58634 | 1988-06-27 | O'Brien County | Iowa | 43.1131 -95.6458 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
58573 | 1988-06-21 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Jerry Selby | 1 |
58646 | 1987-07-02 | Wolter's Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.773263 -92.71744 | John W Fleckenstein | 1 |
58592 | 1987-06-14 | Florenceville Prairie | Iowa | 43.4546 -92.1269 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58624 | 1986-07-11 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58595 | 1986-07-09 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58607 | 1986-07-09 | Kanawha | Iowa | 42.93545 -93.79332 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58608 | 1986-07-09 | Kanawha | Iowa | 42.93545 -93.79332 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58643 | 1986-07-06 | Watertower Prairie | Iowa | 43.378095 -95.185993 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107468 | 1986-07-06 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107473 | 1986-07-06 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58623 | 1986-07-04 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58591 | 1986-06-26 | Florenceville Prairie | Iowa | 43.4546 -92.1269 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58593 | 1986-06-26 | Florenceville Prairie | Iowa | 43.4546 -92.1269 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58606 | 1986-06-26 | Crossman Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.408885 -92.474737 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58565 | 1986-06-21 | Anderson Prairie State Preserve, Emmet County | Iowa | 43.441 -94.8724 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58598 | 1986-06-21 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58629 | 1986-06-21 | Iowa Lakeside Laboratory | Iowa | 43.38 -95.1847 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107469 | 1986-06-21 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107479 | 1986-06-21 | Wuedker Prairie | Iowa | 43.415222 -95.271189 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
58569 | 1985-07-09 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58570 | 1985-07-09 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58596 | 1985-07-09 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58597 | 1985-07-08 | Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | Iowa | 43.349034 -95.222697 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58622 | 1984-08-07 | Hoffman Prairie | Iowa | 43.13306 -93.45667 | Ron Howe | 1 |
58633 | 1984-07-09 | Munson Prairie | Iowa | 42.542676 -94.599158 | Schenum | 4 |
58645 | 1984-07-09 | Wolter's Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.773263 -92.71744 | John W Fleckenstein | 1 |
58637 | 1984-07-04 | Stinson Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.046817 -94.325983 | Ron Howe | 1 |
58635 | 1984-07-01 | Manson | Iowa | 42.526034 -94.520739 | unknown source | 1 |
58572 | 1980-07-11 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | J C Downey | 1 |
58583 | 1980-07-09 | Estherville | Iowa | 43.402171 -94.844322 | J C Downey | 1 |
58571 | 1980-07-06 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | J C Downey | 1 |
107465 | 1980-07-06 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J C Downey | 1 |
58568 | 1980-06-29 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
58584 | 1980-06-29 | Estherville | Iowa | 43.402109 -94.844236 | J C Downey | 1 |
107466 | 1980-06-29 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | D Hess | 1 |
58609 | 1978-06-29 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Balogh | 1 |
58610 | 1976-07-05 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | Conway/Seaborg | 1 |
58581 | 1970-07-14 | Cayler Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 43.3972 -95.2459 | Wittrock | 1 |
271913 | 1969-12-31 | Telford Prairie | Iowa | 43.065 -94.7914 | Ron Harms | 4 |
58614 | 1968-07-13 | Hayden Prairie State Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.44055 -92.38058 | J E Michael | 3 |
4381 | 1950-07-01 | Cerro Gordo County | Iowa | 43.048603 -93.33889 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4382 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County | Iowa | 43.404938 -95.184921 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4383 | 1950-07-01 | Emmet County | Iowa | 43.34943 -94.686378 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4384 | 1950-07-01 | Hancock County | Iowa | 43.038731 -93.662323 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4385 | 1950-07-01 | Howard County | Iowa | 43.38195 -92.381363 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4386 | 1950-07-01 | Kossuth County | Iowa | 43.251339 -94.233337 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4387 | 1950-07-01 | Page County | Iowa | 40.763512 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4388 | 1950-07-01 | Palo Alto County | Iowa | 43.158089 -94.645035 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4389 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.653011 -92.539604 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4390 | 1950-07-01 | Story County | Iowa | 42.104046 -93.500343 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4391 | 1950-07-01 | Woodbury County | Iowa | 42.316616 -95.983261 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
58631 | 1950-07-01 | Linn County | Iowa | 42.027289 -91.67275 | George Berry | 1 |
58649 | 1950-07-01 | Woodbury County | Iowa | 42.31662 -95.98326 | Lindsey | 1 |
107457 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Hathaway | 1 |
107458 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Lindsey | 1 |
107459 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Lindsey | 1 |
107460 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Osborn | 1 |
107463 | 1950-07-01 | Howard County | Iowa | 43.360011 -92.288378 | Ron Gatrelle | 1 |
107470 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Klots | 1 |
107471 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Lindsey | 1 |
107472 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Opler | 1 |
58639 | 1930-07-01 | Story County | Iowa | 42.10405 -93.50034 | Lindsey | 1 |
107475 | 1930-06-26 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | McAlpine | 1 |
107461 | 1930-06-21 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Parker | 2 |