A small federally endangered skipper down to a few hundred individuals at perhaps 5 sites. Among the most endangered insects in North America.

Also called: Poweshiek

Native status: Native; federally endangered

§ Quick facts

SizeWingspan 2.4–3.0 cm (1.0–1.2 in)
Weight~0.1 g
LifespanAdults ~7 days; one generation per year
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyHesperiidae

§ Encyclopedia

Oarisma poweshiek, the Poweshiek skipperling, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae. 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.

Source: Wikipedia — Oarisma poweshiek Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Tiny brown skipper with white-veined orange flush on underside of hindwings.

Similar species. Other skipper species — very difficult to distinguish without expert ID. European Skipper (introduced; lacks Poweshiek's wing pattern).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Adults: nectar from prairie wildflowers (especially black-eyed Susan, pale purple coneflower). Larvae: native prairie grasses (prairie dropseed primarily).

Behavior. Federally endangered (2014). Once abundant across tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie from Iowa to Manitoba; now reduced to a handful of sites in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Manitoba. Cause of decline poorly understood — likely habitat loss, pesticide drift, and fire timing. Captive rearing at Minnesota Zoo working to bolster wild populations.

§ Range

Remnant tallgrass prairies in MI, WI, IA, MN

§ Habitat

High-quality tallgrass prairie remnants

§ Threats

Pesticide drift, tallgrass loss, habitat fragmentation, mysterious decline.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the poweshiek skipperling is currently classified as Critically Endangered.

§ What helps

Support tallgrass prairie protection. Donate to Minnesota Zoo Poweshiek Recovery.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USFWS Poweshiek Skipperling Recovery
  • Minnesota Zoo Conservation
  • Xerces Society
  • The Nature Conservancy