Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Hesperiidae Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Oarisma | |
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Similar Oarisma, Hesperia dacotae, Skipperling, Hesperia ottoe, Hesperia | ||
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.
Contents
Description
Coloured dark brown on the upperside with an orange along the costa. The underside of the hindwings are dark grey with white veins.
Wingspan is from 24 to 30 mm.
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.