Wing span: 3.5-4.3 cm.
Flight time: A single flight, with adults emerging from early June to mid August. The great majority of adults have been observed from the end of June to mid July.
Status: Rare breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: The Ottoe Skipper can be differentiated from the similar (and more common) Delaware Skipper based on its larger size, lemon yellow (rather than orange) under wing color, and darker upper wing surface. Males of this species and the Pawnee Skipper (Hesperia leonardus pawnee) are essentially indistinguishable. These species are best separated based upon flight times, with the Pawnee Skipper's flight ranging from the end of August through early October.
Distribution and habitat: This species is limited to xeric prairie habitats dominated by mid- and short-grasses in far western and eastern Iowa. Western Iowa populations are limited to the Loess Hills, to gravel ridges along the Big Sioux River and to moraines along the western margin of the Des Moines Lobe. Eastern Iowa sites are restricted to limestone and sandstone glades, with most of these being found along the Upper Iowa River. Although similar xeric habitats are found throughout northeastern and north central Iowa, no populations have yet been documented in these locations in spite of extensive searching.
Natural History: Larvae have not been observed feeding in Iowa, but they likely consume Little Bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), which is often abundant on xeric prairie sites. Oviposition has been noted on this plant, as well as on the flowers of Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida), even though larvae do not eat this plant. Presumably, after hatching the larvae must crawl down the coneflower plants to reach appropriate food sources. The population at Freda Haffner Kettlehole has not been observed in over a decade, and it is likely that it was exterminated by management practices there.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
353934 | 2013-08-01 | Chimney Rock Prairie | Iowa | 43.4675 -91.325 | Kirk J. Larsen | 1 |
359308 | 2013-07-20 | Zoll's Mountain Hill Prairie | Iowa | 43.439333 -91.3315 | Nicole Powers | 1 |
359309 | 2013-07-20 | Zoll's Mountain Hill Prairie | Iowa | 43.439333 -91.3315 | Dan Gibson | 1 |
351820 | 2013-07-19 | Zoll's Mountain Hill Prairie | Iowa | 43.438339 -91.331759 | Moni Hayne | 1 |
56771 | 2008-06-24 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
56772 | 2007-07-21 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
56770 | 2007-07-11 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56767 | 2005-07-27 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56769 | 2005-07-27 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
107276 | 2005-06-21 | Mills County | Iowa | 41.030434 -95.642009 | Jerry Selby | 1 |
56745 | 2005-06-20 | Sapp Bros Travel Center | Iowa | 40.69 -95.79111 | Jerry Selby | 1 |
56768 | 2003-07-25 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56737 | 2002-08-13 | Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.6496 -96.5032 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
115361 | 2002-07-20 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Chris Edwards | 12 |
56773 | 2002-07-03 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
29849 | 1998-08-01 | Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve | Iowa | 42.71583 -96.55333 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56741 | 1997-07-16 | Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.67867 -96.53473 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56739 | 1996-07-02 | Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.67867 -96.53473 | Jeff Glassberg | 1 |
56757 | 1992-07-08 | Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.415681 -96.563796 | 1 | |
56758 | 1992-07-08 | Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.415681 -96.563796 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56759 | 1992-07-08 | Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.415681 -96.563796 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56760 | 1992-07-08 | Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area | Iowa | 43.415681 -96.563796 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107280 | 1992-07-06 | Anthony Pope Prairie | Iowa | 42.438477 -96.23305 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107281 | 1992-07-06 | Anthony Pope Prairie | Iowa | 42.438477 -96.23305 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56742 | 1992-06-25 | Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.67867 -96.53473 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
169
1
42
2024 | 0 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 0 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 0 |
2019 | 0 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 0 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 0 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 4 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2010 | 0 |
2024 | 0 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 0 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 0 |
2019 | 0 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 0 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 0 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 1 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2010 | 0 |
2024 | 0 |
2023 | 0 |
2022 | 0 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 0 |
2019 | 0 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 0 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 0 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 2 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2010 | 0 |
Site Name | Observations | Last Observation |
---|---|---|
Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | 25 | 2008-06-24 |
Sioux City State Prairie Preserve | 13 | 1991-07-20 |
Stone State Park | 12 | 1989-07-24 |
Weymiller Hill Prairie | 9 | 1987-07-07 |
Mount Talbot State Preserve | 7 | 1991-06-30 |
Sunflower Drive Hill Prairie | 7 | 1987-07-10 |
Armund Bartz Prairie | 7 | 1987-06-28 |
Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | 6 | 1997-07-16 |
Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve | 5 | 1998-08-01 |
Chimney Rock Prairie | 4 | 2013-08-01 |
Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area | 4 | 1992-07-08 |
Anthony Pope Prairie | 4 | 1992-07-06 |
Potter's Prairie | 4 | 1987-07-11 |
French Creek Wildlife Management Area | 4 | 1987-07-10 |
Hanover Township | 4 | 1987-07-08 |
Waubonsie State Park | 4 | 1984-07-03 |
Zoll's Mountain Hill Prairie | 3 | 2013-07-20 |
Hamilton Prairie, Jackson County | 3 | 1991-07-10 |
Mile Long Prairie | 3 | 1987-07-08 |
Lewis and Clark Park | 3 | 1980-07-02 |
Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve | 2 | 1989-06-25 |
New Albin | 2 | 1987-07-14 |
Riverside Drive | 2 | 1987-06-25 |
Loess Hills Preserve | 2 | 1984-07-05 |
Sapp Bros Travel Center | 1 | 2005-06-20 |