Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)

Dusted Skipper Photo by Mike Reese. Check the photos tab for additional photos.
Photo © Mike Reese

Overview

Species Overview

Dusted skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna), a State Special Concern butterfly, has been found in dry, open sandy areas, dry prairie, pine barrens. Its host plants are Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparius). This species is univoltine with adults in flight from late May to early June in Wisconsin when few other skippers are present. Fully grown caterpillars hibernate and pupate in a sealed case 1-3 inches above the ground at the base of the host plant.

Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Summary Information
State Status:	SC/N
Federal Status in Wisconsin:	none
State Rank:	S3
Global Rank:	G4G5
Tracked by NHI:	Y
Species of Greatest Conservation Need:

Documented locations of Atrytonopsis hianna in the Natural Heritage Inventory Database as of April 2009.

Detailed Information

Identification: Both sexes as adults are dark brown with pointed wings and grey dusting along the outer edge of both wings below. The forewings sport several translucent spots, including near the tip. Most individuals are faintly marked with at least one white spot near the body on the ventral hindwing. Males have a tiny three-part stigma not readily seen without magnification. A folded wing skipper. The forewings are more sharply pointed than in similar species. If in doubt, send specimen to a specialist for verification. Wingspan: 28-34 mm. Length of forewing: 15-18 mm. Eggs are bright yellow. The caterpillar is pale lavender with pale gray sides. The head is deep red-purple with a dark brown collar. The body is covered with long, yellow-white hair (Heitzman 1974).

Similar Species: Female cobweb skippers (Hesperia metea) are a similar brown, but are smaller and have well-defined white spots below, particularly on the forewing. The northern cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) is a spreadwing skipper that rests with wings open, not angled as do the folded wing skippers. It has translucent spots on the forewings with a short row of three near the leading edge. The fringe is slightly checkered at the veins, and there is some frosting on the outer edge of the hindwings below. The roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis) is considerably smaller.

Habitat: Dry, open sandy areas, dry prairie, pine barrens.

Nectar Source: The dusted skipper frequently visits flowers and is strongly attracted to puccoon (Lithospermum spp.). Strawberry (Fragaria spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.), phlox,and vervain (Verbena spp.) have also been reported (Opler et al.).

Host Plant: Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparius).

Associated Species: Often found with the cobweb skipper (Hesperia metea) another bluestem feeder. The cobweb skipper is typically out about a week earlier than the dusted skipper.

State Distribution: A localized species in Wisconsin, but not uncommon in some sites. Adams, Burnett, Clark, Dane, Douglas, Eau Claire, Grant, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe, Pierce, Richland, Sauk and Wood counties.

Global Distribution: Southern New England south to Florida and the Gulf States, west in scattered locations across the Great Lakes states to eastern Wyoming and Colorado. Occurs in Canada in southwestern Ontario, southern Manitoba, and southeastern Saskatchewan.

Threats: Habitat loss due to woody species and forest encroachment. Overwintering larvae are exposed and vulnerable to being killed by fire.

Phenology: Adults fly in late May to early June in Wisconsin when few other skippers are present.

Life History: Univoltine. Caterpillar lives in a tent of leaves sewn together at least a foot above the ground. Fully grown caterpillars hibernate and pupate in a sealed case 1-3 inches above the ground at the base of the host plant. Males perch on grass stems and dart out at passing insects that resemble females. During the daytime, males also perch on or near the ground to watch for receptive females (Opler et al. 1995). A remnant-dependent species (Panzer et al 1995).

Survey Guidance: Search puccoon flowers for nectaring adults. New county records should be documented with voucher specimens.

Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations.

Management Guidance: Adults move about and readily colonize newly burned areas (Pyle 1997). Immature stages of the species are on the plant throughout the year. Sites managed with prescribed burning should be divided into several burn units leaving the majority of the site unburned in a given season.

Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.

Photos

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