Oarisma poweshiek

Poweshiek skipperling

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Oarisma
Species: O. poweshiek
Binomial name
Oarisma poweshiek
(Parker, 1870)
Synonyms
  • Hesperia powesheik
  • Thymelicus powesheik[1]

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 species that possibly vary throughout the distribution of this species.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Oarisma, funet.fi
  2. 1 2 3 4 Poweshiek Skipperling, Butterflies of Canada

Further reading

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