Poweshiek Skipperling
Oarisma poweshiek (Parker, 1870)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is black; forewing leading edge and veins are orange. Underside of hindwing is pale brown with white veins.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: To seek females, males patrol close to the ground with a rapid flight. Females deposit eggs singly on leaves of the host plants, which the caterpillars eat. Fifth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Spikerush (Eleocharis elliptica).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including black-eyed susans, purple coneflower, ox-eye daisy, stiff-leaved coreopsis, and white clover.
Habitat: Undisturbed remnants of native tall-grass prairie.
Range: The Dakotas, Minnesota, one site in Iowa, and one site in Michigan.
Conservation: Because little of its habitat remains, this butterfly is in need of protection wherever it is found.
NCGR: G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).
Management Needs: Remaining habitats should be carefully managed. Use of fire as a management tool is discouraged.
Comments: Named for Poweshiek County. See Pelham 2008.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Oarisma powesheik
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 76 verified sightings
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jun 28, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins, Owen A.)
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 11, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins, Owen A.)
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 02, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Nielsen, Mogens C.)
Region: Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 11, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins, Owen A.)
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 01, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bialecki M, Kuhlman R, Richiards C, Swales John, Wykes Roger)
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/3776_64.jpg?itok=BZJJxcMX)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jun 13, 1977
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 23, 1979
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 12, 1990
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 11, 1983
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jul 10, 1981
Submitted by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Region: Nobles County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh (Tom Middagh)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2008
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Big Stone County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pope County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Richland County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Page County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lake County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Racine County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dodge County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Marshall County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Swift County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dickinson County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Marshall County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
- 1 of 4
- next ›