Crystal skipper

Distribution

The crystal skipper is endemic to Bogue Banks and Bear Island in North Carolina, USA. Bogue Banks is approximately 25 miles long and Bear Island is about 3.5 miles long. The skipper is also found on several human-made dredge spoil islands within the vicinity of these two natural barrier islands.

Bear Island, part of Hammocks Beach State Park, is completely undeveloped and has the largest skipper population. The second largest population is at Fort Macon State Park, on the eastern end of Bogue Banks. The remaining populations are smaller and scattered between these two state parks.

Taxonomy and common name

The taxonomy of the crystal skipper was only recently resolved and it was determined that the crystal skipper is a full species. The species was believed to be either 1) a full species in the Atrytonopsis genus, 2) a subspecies of A. hianna (the dusted skipper), 3) a subspecies of A. loammi (which some consider to be a subspecies of A. hianna), or 4) the same species as A. loammi. Field guides and checklists often group Atrytonopsis new species 1 with A. loammi.

There are no formalized common names of butterflies (unlike birds), but the most frequently used common name for Atrytonopsis new species 1 is the crystal skipper. It is called the crystal skipper because it is native to the section of the North Carolina called the Crystal Coast and because it has white spots on its wings that look like crystals.

Life cycle

The crystal skipper has two broods per year. The first brood emerges from the chrysalis stage from mid-April to mid-May. Adults from this brood mate and the females then lay eggs. The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which feed, grow and then undergo pupation to form a chrysalis. After metamorphosis, the second brood adults emerge between mid-July and mid-August. The caterpillars from this brood will grow until fall and then overwinter. The following spring they complete metamorphosis and the cycle repeats. Therefore, the adults in the spring of the second year are the grandchildren of the brood from the previous spring.

The crystal skipper lays its eggs on seaside little bluestem, Schizachyrium littorale, and the caterpillars feed on this grass.

Habitat

The crystal skipper is found along primary and secondary sand dunes where its hostplant, seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale), is present. Although the largest and most dense populations of the skipper are usually on undisturbed sand dunes, the skipper can also persist in small patches of sand dune habitat, such as undeveloped lots in urban areas. Additionally, the crystal skipper is found on several human-made dredge spoil islands that have been colonized by seaside little bluestem.

Conservation status

The crystal skipper is globally rare but locally abundant. Much of the sand dunes on Bogue Banks have been destroyed by development, leaving little habitat for the crystal skipper outside the two state parks.

The crystal skipper is a federal species of concern. A “species of concern” is an informal designation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is not a term that is defined under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The crystal skipper is not federally listed as threatened or endangered. Insects cannot be listed under the North Carolina Endangered Species Act.

Conservation and Restoration

Crystal skippers rely on flowers for nectar and seaside little bluestem for hostplants. Retaining native vegetation in your yard, especially dune grasses such as seaside little bluestem, can help create habitat for the crystal skipper and other native animals. Alternately, you could try actively planting seaside little bluestem.

Native flowers that are commonly used for sources of nectar during the spring crystal skipper brood include: Yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum), risky tread-softly or spurge nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus), southern dewberry (Rubus trivialis), and coastal prickly pear (Opuntia pusilla). The summer brood of crystal skippers frequent morning glory (Ipomoea spp), especially in the morning. Non-native plants (also called exotic plants) that are a common source of nectar include Lantana species.