Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens

This field guide describes butterflies, skippers, and moths (Lepidoptera) that are found in Wisconsin's bog and barrens. It focuses on rare species as defined by the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) Program and included in the NHI Working List of Rare Species. The field guide concentrates on species legally designated as "Endangered" or "Threatened" as well as species in the advisory "Special Concern" category. It also includes a handful of species that are not on the NHI Working List but are known to use Wisconsin bogs and barrens.

Bogs and barrens are defining features of Wisconsin's landscape and account for much of its rugged beauty and mystery. Bogs are acidic, low nutrient wetlands dominated by Sphagnum mosses and are more commonly found in northern Wisconsin. In contrast, barrens are dry communities, often on sandy soils, that support scattered pines and oaks and are distributed in several locations around the state. Both communities provide important niche habitats for groups of rare plants and animals. The harsh conditions of these unique communities have led to unusual and interesting adaptations by the plants and animals that live within these systems. Bogs and barrens are tracked as several distinct natural community types in the NHI database.

This field guide does not cover all Lepidoptera species found in Wisconsin bogs and barrens. Some species are abundant and are not tracked on the NHI Working List and, thus, are not included in this guide. Other species may be rare but haven't been documented in bogs and barrens through field inventory and are not included at this point in time. The field guide will be updated as new information becomes available. Also, our goal is to develop similar guides for additional habitats, so stay tuned. Learn more about Wisconsin's Lepidoptera.