Status: Breeding resident or southern stray.
Distinguishing features: The upper wing surface is dark red-orange, with a hooked forewing apex and a short tail on the outer hindwing margin. The lower wing surface is a plant brown-gray color, and mimics the appearance of a dead leaf.
Distribution and habitat: Limited to the southern half of the state where it is very rare. Adults have generally been seen in sandy woods and fields adjacent to rivers.
Natural History: Larvae consume Croton species, which are uncommon plants of southern Iowa sand prairies. Adults feed on fermented fruit, sap, and dung piles. This species has been observed on multiple occasions in Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County, making it likely that a resident colony exists there. The remaining sightings are once-only occurrences. However, the location of a slightly-worn female in April in Linn County in 1991 suggests that other temporary breeding colonies may periodic exist in the state.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2024-04-14 | Red Cedar Wildlife Area | Iowa | 41.456632 -91.273374 | Mark Madsen | 1 |
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2022-05-09 | Coralville Reservoir | Iowa | 41.729693 -91.556123 | Mark Madsen | 1 |
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2022-04-23 | Red Cedar Wildlife Area | Iowa | 41.454503 -91.268273 | Mark Madsen | 1 |
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2020-06-02 | Wilcox Wildlife Area | Iowa | 41.238081 -92.956863 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
274145 | 2020-05-02 | Van Buren County | Iowa | 40.64741 -91.686584 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
280286 | 2020-05-01 | Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit West | Iowa | 40.566286 -91.658401 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
280287 | 2020-05-01 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.643603 -91.67741 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
280285 | 2020-04-26 | Beam's Woods | Iowa | 42.142425 -91.343915 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
240335 | 2019-05-04 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.649586 -91.68705 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
202704 | 2017-05-07 | Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Monroe County | Iowa | 41.115889 -93.082861 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
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2017-04-24 | Geode State Park, Henry County | Iowa | 40.823969 -91.378233 | Mark Brown | 1 |
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2017-04-23 | Westphal Timber, Jones | Iowa | 42.1349 -90.95348 | Anita Westphal | 3 |
186773 | 2017-04-23 | Waubonsie State Park | Iowa | 40.676 -95.689 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
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2017-04-23 | Geode State Park, Henry County | Iowa | 40.81944 -91.39194 | Mark Brown | 1 |
199883 | 2017-04-23 | Waubonsie State Park | Iowa | 40.676 -95.689 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
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2017-04-23 | Geode State Park, Henry County | Iowa | 40.81944 -91.39194 | Mark Brown | 1 |
249371 | 2017-04-23 | Westphal Timber, Jones | Iowa | 42.1349 -90.95348 | IBSN | 3 |
202703 | 2017-04-17 | Shimek State Forest, Farmington Unit | Iowa | 40.653998 -91.72554 | Chris Edwards | 3 |
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2015-10-11 | Ada Hayden Heritage Park | Iowa | 42.06694 -93.62944 | Wolfgang Oesterreich | 1 |
111938 | 2009-05-14 | Augusta Wildlife Area | Iowa | 40.763967 -91.281559 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
6467 | 2009-05-03 | Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Lucas County | Iowa | 41.103003 -93.101751 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
6468 | 2009-05-03 | Stephens State Forest - Woodburn Unit | Iowa | 40.96446 -93.579119 | Aaron Brees | 3 |
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2009-05-03 | Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Lucas County | Iowa | 41.103003 -93.101751 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
6471 | 2009-04-24 | Stephens State Forest - Woodburn Unit | Iowa | 40.96446 -93.579119 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
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2009-04-24 | Chariton | Iowa | 41.02054 -93.326534 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
53
1
32
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 2 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 5 |
2019 | 2 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 15 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 1 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 0 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 1 |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 1 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 1 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 0 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 2 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 4 |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 5 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 1 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 0 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
Site Name | Observations | Last Observation |
---|---|---|
Westphal Timber, Jones | 6 | 2017-04-23 |
Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | 4 | 2020-05-02 |
Stephens State Forest - Woodburn Unit | 4 | 2009-05-03 |
Geode State Park | 3 | 2017-04-24 |
Shimek State Forest, Farmington Unit | 3 | 2017-04-17 |
Red Cedar Wildlife Area | 2 | 2024-04-14 |
Waubonsie State Park | 2 | 2017-04-23 |
Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Lucas County | 2 | 2009-05-03 |
Honey Creek State Park | 2 | 2001-09-20 |
J. Harold Ennis County Park | 2 | 1991-04-07 |
Rock Island Botanical State Preserve | 2 | 1990-09-26 |
Coralville Reservoir | 1 | 2022-05-09 |
Wilcox Wildlife Area | 1 | 2020-06-02 |
Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit West | 1 | 2020-05-01 |
Beam's Woods | 1 | 2020-04-26 |
Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Monroe County | 1 | 2017-05-07 |
Ada Hayden Heritage Park | 1 | 2015-10-11 |
Augusta Wildlife Area | 1 | 2009-05-14 |
Chariton | 1 | 2009-04-24 |
Slip Bluff County Park | 1 | 2008-08-05 |
Sand Creek State Wildlife Area | 1 | 2004-05-20 |
Nine Eagles State Park | 1 | 2004-04-16 |
Heron Bend Conservation Area | 1 | 2001-06-30 |
Dallas County | 1 | 1950-05-01 |
Sidney | 1 | 1950-05-01 |