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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56771 | 2008-06-24 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 2 |
56772 | 2007-07-21 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 2 |
56770 | 2007-07-11 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56767 | 2005-07-27 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56769 | 2005-07-27 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
107276 | 2005-06-21 | Mills County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jerry Selby | 1 |
56745 | 2005-06-20 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jerry Selby | 1 |
56768 | 2003-07-25 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
56737 | 2002-08-13 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
115361 | 2002-07-20 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Chris Edwards | 12 |
56773 | 2002-07-03 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 2 |
![]() |
1998-08-01 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56741 | 1997-07-16 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56739 | 1996-07-02 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Glassberg | 1 |
56757 | 1992-07-08 | Lyon County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56758 | 1992-07-08 | Lyon County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56759 | 1992-07-08 | Lyon County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56760 | 1992-07-08 | Lyon County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107280 | 1992-07-06 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107281 | 1992-07-06 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56742 | 1992-06-25 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56779 | 1991-07-20 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56780 | 1991-07-20 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56789 | 1991-07-20 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 2 | |
56750 | 1991-07-10 | Jackson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
56751 | 1991-07-10 | Jackson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
56752 | 1991-07-10 | Jackson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107285 | 1991-06-30 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107284 | 1990-07-04 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 5 |
29850 | 1990-04-09 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107289 | 1989-09-09 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56761 | 1989-08-27 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56774 | 1989-08-16 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56775 | 1989-08-16 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56776 | 1989-08-16 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56794 | 1989-07-24 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56798 | 1989-07-24 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56740 | 1989-07-21 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56743 | 1989-06-25 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Ron Harms | 1 |
56744 | 1989-06-25 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Ron Harms | 1 |
56792 | 1988-07-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56793 | 1988-07-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56795 | 1988-07-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56796 | 1988-07-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
![]() |
1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56790 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56791 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56799 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56800 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107277 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107282 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
107283 | 1988-06-26 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56777 | 1987-07-14 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
56778 | 1987-07-14 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
56736 | 1987-07-11 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56746 | 1987-07-10 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56747 | 1987-07-10 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56748 | 1987-07-10 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56749 | 1987-07-10 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56782 | 1987-07-10 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56785 | 1987-07-10 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56735 | 1987-07-08 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56753 | 1987-07-08 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56754 | 1987-07-08 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56755 | 1987-07-08 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
56762 | 1987-07-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | J. Nehuevaj | 1 |
107286 | 1987-07-07 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
56763 | 1987-06-30 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56764 | 1987-06-28 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56756 | 1987-06-25 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56765 | 1987-06-22 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56766 | 1987-06-22 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | 1 | |
56781 | 1987-06-18 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56784 | 1987-06-18 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56787 | 1986-07-17 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56783 | 1986-07-11 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56786 | 1986-07-11 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56788 | 1986-07-11 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56738 | 1986-06-25 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56801 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56802 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56803 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56804 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107287 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107288 | 1984-07-06 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107278 | 1984-07-05 | Monona County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107279 | 1984-07-05 | Monona County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56805 | 1984-07-03 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56806 | 1984-07-03 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
56807 | 1984-07-03 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107291 | 1980-07-02 | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107292 | 1980-07-02 | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107290 | 1980-07-01 | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
3539 | 1950-07-01 | Allamakee County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3540 | 1950-07-01 | Clinton County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3541 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3542 | 1950-07-01 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3543 | 1950-07-01 | Harrison County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3544 | 1950-07-01 | Jackson County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3545 | 1950-07-01 | Lyon County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3546 | 1950-07-01 | Mills County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3547 | 1950-07-01 | Monona County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3548 | 1950-07-01 | Plymouth County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3549 | 1950-07-01 | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3550 | 1950-07-01 | Sioux County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
3551 | 1950-07-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
56808 | 1950-07-01 | Fremont County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |
56797 | 1930-08-01 | Woodbury County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Tim Orwig | 1 |