SKIPPERS AND BUTTERFLIES OF THE POLICE COULEE AREA, ALBERTA
HAROLD W. PIN EL, 1017 - 19 Avenue N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2M 0Z8 and NORBERT G. KONDLA, Resource Evaluation and Planning Division, Alberta Energy and Natural Resources, 530 - 8 Street S., Lethbridge, Alberta. T1J 2J8
The study area of 36 mi.2 is Township 1, ty of moisture, and soil type are key factors Range 13, west of the Fourth Meridian. The influencing plant growth on a given site. Alberta - Montana boundary forms the The change from one plant community to southern border of the study area. The nor¬ another can be abrupt and well defined, or thern end of the study area is bordered by it may be gradual and intergrading. Figures special features such as the Milk River, 1 to 3 illustrate the topography and habitats Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and Van of the study area. Cleeve Coulee. Bisecting the study area is the north-south running Police Creek and For discussing the butterflies, it is conve¬ its spectacular associated coulee system. nient to group the habitats into four major Rising from the plains are the scenic catergories: grasslands, bare and eroding Sweetgrass Hills of Montana, immediately slopes, shrub communities and riverine south of the study area. Elevation ranges forest. from 3140 to 4000 ft. The majority of the study area is featured Two ecoregions make up the study area. by an undulating upland plain, which The northern two-thirds of the land is becomes more rolling to the south as it classified as being in the Short Grass merges into the lower slopes of the Ecoregion, and the southern third as in the Sweetgrass Hills. Much of the upland plain Mixed Grass Ecoregion.9 This boundary is has been disturbed by cultivation and cat¬ based primarily on the soil boundary tle grazing. Mixed grassland occurs on the separating the Brown and Dark Brown upland plain, on older portions of the Chernozems. Visually, the boundary is floodplain, and on relatively stable coulee noticeable by the higher elevation and and valley slopes. Spear grasses (Stipa spp.), more luxuriant grass vegetation of the Mix¬ Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis), June ed Grass Ecoregion. The area has a con¬ Grass (Koeleria cristata) and wheat grasses tinental prairie climate characterised by (.Agropyron spp.) are the dominant grasses. cold winters, warm summers, and low In the more xeric sites, Blue Grama Grass precipitation. The mean annual precipita¬ and Spear Grass (Stipa comata) are tion is 21 cm and sometimes as low as 17 predominant. In mesic areas, other species cm in the Short Grass region, while the Mix¬ of spear grasses and wheat grasses ed Grass Ecoregion has a mean of 26 cm dominate. and a low of 20 cm. The increased precipitation is due to the increased eleva¬ On dry exposed coulee edges, slopes and tion which increases upslope precipitation sandstone ledges, the following species are during an easterly flow. common: Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), Moss Phlox (Phlox hoodii), A diverse landscape and an associated Musi neon (Musineon divaricatum), Cryp- variety of microenvironments are largely tanthe (Cryptantha nubigena), Smooth Blue responsible for the heterogeneity of the Beard-tongue (Penstemon nitidus), Butte vegetation. The degree and stability of Marigold (Hymenoxys acaulis), slope, exposure to wind and sun, availabili¬ Chamaerhodos (Chamaerhodos erecta),
December 1985.43(4) 213 Figure 1. Aerial photo of study area (1:60,000)
bladder pods (Lesquerella spp.), Yellow Willow (Elaeagnus commutata) and Prairie Violet (Viola nuttallii) and Prairie Buckbrush (Symphoricarpos occidentalis). Groundsel (Senecio canus). Shrub stands may be of a single species or a mixture of species. Shrub communities can be found in the river valley, in the coulee bottoms, and on protected slopes., In this area, they are The riverine forest dominated by cotton¬ highly variable and include willows (Salix woods (Populus sargentii) occurs in scat¬ spp.), Water Birch (Betula occidentalis), tered stands along the Milk River, and in Golden Currant (Ribes aureum), Skunk the major coulees. The main shrubs Bush (Rhus trilobata), Thorny Buffalo-berry associated with the riverine forest are (Shepherdia argentea), Chokecherry willows, Water Birch, Chokecherry, Thor¬ (Prunus virginiana), Wild Gooseberry (Ribes ny Buffalo-berry and Red Osier Dogwood oxyacanthoides), roses (Rosa spp.), Wolf {Cornus stolonifera).
214 Blue Jay Police Coulee H.W. PineI
December 1985.43(4) 215 Annotated List Yellowpatch Skipper (Polites coras) - Occa¬ The following list is the result of field sional in disturbed grasslands: 15/7/83. observations and collections made by the To date, this is the most southeastern authors on 17 different days over a five-year record for Alberta period from 1980 to 1984. Dates indicating days for which specimen records are Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles) available are written in an abbreviated for¬ - Scarce in grasslands in the coulees: mat by day, month, year (e.g. 26/6/83 is 26 26/6/83. Outside of the Cypress Hills, June 1983). These are given only for the less this is the most southeastern record for common species. Included is data collected Alberta. by Wayne Smith, Felix Sperling and Terry Thormin. These records are acknowledged Long Dash (Polites mystic dacotah) - Un¬ by their initials following the collection date common in disturbed grasslands from 22 for those species for which dates are given. June to 27 July. For the more common species the flight period is noted by the first and last dates Delaware Skipper (Atrytone logan) - Occa¬ recorded with specimens sional in low shrubbery in coulees dur¬ ing July. These are the westernmost Most of the common names in the list are known records for Alberta. from Pyle.7 Scientific names generally follow Howe for genus, and Miller and Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes vial is) - Oc¬ Brown for species and subspecies.2 5 casional near shrubbery in coulees: 10/6/80 TT. H ESPERII DAE - Skippers Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) - PAPILIONIDAE - Swallowtails Common in shrubbery in coulees and along the river from 10 June to 22 July. Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon dodi) - Occasional in grasslands during Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) May and July. - Occasional on prairie slopes 10 to 26 June. Anise Swallowtail {Papilio zelicaon) - Scarce in grasslands: 27/5/79 FS. There is a Afranius Dusky Wing {Erynnis afranius) - chance that this record is actually a Fairly common in grasslands during the hybrid with the Old World Swallowtail. last half of May and in late July. It has a round, unconnected anal pupil, but a fair amount of yellow on the Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus com¬ claspers (F. Sperling, pers. munis communis) - Uncommon in dry comm) grasslands: 23/8/76 WS, 7/8/80, 15/7/83. Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus canaden¬ sis) - Scarce in tall thickets in coulees: Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita) - Fairly 26/6/83. common in moist grasslands from 10 June to 9 July. Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudadata) - Fairly common in Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas) - Occa¬ shrubbery in coulees from 10 June to 22 sional on dry grassy slopes: 22/6/80, July. 10/7/80. PIERIDAE - Whites, Sulphurs and Marbles Assiniboia Skipper (Hesperia comma assiniboia) - Occasional in grasslands: Western White (Pieris occidentalis) - Fairly 7/8/80. common in grasslands and along the
216 Blue Jay Tiger Swallowtails Larry Morgotch
edges of coulees from 16 May to 8 LYCAENIDAE - Gossamer-winged August. Butterflies
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) - Common in Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus) - Scarce; disturbed areas from 28 May to 7 one individual was collected on 11/7/80 August. in a shady area in Van Cleeve Coulee.
Creamy Marblewing {Euchloe ausonides) - Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides) - Un¬ Scarce in higher elevation grasslands in common along the Milk River and other June: 10 + 22/6/80. water courses: 10/6/80, 27/6/83.
Olympia Marblewing (Euchloe olympia) - Occasional during the latter half of May Coral Hairstreak (Harkenclenus titus im- on bare slopes in the coulees: 28/5/81, maculosus) - Uncommon in shrub com¬ 16/5/82. munities in the coulees during July. These are the southeasternmost records Common Sulphur (Colias philodice for Alberta, excluding those for the eriphyle) - Common in disturbed areas Cypress Hills. from 6 May to 8 August. Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica) - Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexan- Scarce; an individual was collected in dra alexandra) - Uncommon in native shrubbery along Police Creek 2.3/7/76 grasslands: 10/6/80, 7/8/80, 28/5/81. WS.
December 1985.43(4) 217 Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops) - Rustic Arctic Blue (Plebejus franklinii Scarce; an individual was recorded rustica) - Occasional in grasslands: 22/7/76 WS in low shrubbery in Police 26/6/83. This is one of the most Coulee. This is the southernmost known southeastern records for the province. record for Alberta. NYMPHALIDAE - Brush-footed Butterflies Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) - Occa¬ sional in mixed grasslands on the coulee Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) - hillsides during May and July: 22/7/76 Scarce in riverine forest; one 11/7/81. WS, 16/5/82. Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele Western Tailed Blue (Everes amyntula leto) - Fairly common in shrub com¬ albrighti) - Occasional in shrub com¬ munities in coulees during July. munities in coulees and river valleys: 10/6/80, 26/6/83. Outside of the Cypress Aphrodite (Speyeria aphrodite) - Common Hills, these are some of the most in mixed grasslands and shrub com¬ southeastern reports for the province munities in the coulees during July and along with those reported for the lower August. The specimens are not like ssp. Milk River.4 manitoba from farther north. Generally they are larger and darker indicating Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) - Occasional transition to ssp. ethne. in wooded areas of the coulees and river valley during May: 6/5/76 WS, 16/5/82. Edward's Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii) - Oc¬ casional in shrub communities in Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) - Oc¬ coulees from 10 June to 7 August: casional in mixed grasslands: 22/6/80, 10/6/80 TT, 9/7/80, 7/8/80. 16/5/82. Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene) - Scarce Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa melissa) - in shrub communities in the coulees: Common in grasslands from 28 May to 7/8/80. 7 August. Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus arnica) - calgariana) - Fairly common in mixed Uncommon in disturbed grasslands: grasslands and shrub communities on 10/6/80, 15/7/83. coulee hillsides from 22 June to 29 Ju¬ ly. Males spend a lot of time patrolling Pembina Blue (Plebejus icarioides pembina) upper coulee edges. - Uncommon in mixed grasslands in the southern parts of the coulees closest to Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia the Sweetgrass Hills of Montana from 10 eurynome) - Scarce in shrub com¬ June to 15 July. These records, along munities in coulees: 23/7/76 WS, with those from the Cypress Hills are the 22/6/80. southeasternmost in Alberta. Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) - Shasta Blue (Plebejus shasta minnehaha) - Occasional in low damp areas in the Uncommon and local on bare coulee southern parts of the coulee systems slopes from 10 June to 9 July: 10/6/80, during June: 10$22/6/80. These are the 9/7/80, 26/6/83. southeasternmost records for Alberta.
Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon lutzi) - Un¬ Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) common in dry grasslands and on bare - Uncommon on hillsides of the coulees coulee slopes: 26/6/83, 21/7/84. and river valley during July: 21-23/7/76
218 Blue Jay WS, 10/7/80. These are the westernmost records along the Milk River drainage, and the southwesternmost records for the province.
Pearl Crescentspot (Phyciodes tharos) - Common in grasslands and bordering shrub communities in the coulees from 28 May to 8 August.
Northern Crescentspot (Phyciodes pascoen- sis) - Scarce in the extreme southern por¬ tions of the coulees on the lower slopes of the Sweetgrass Hills. An individual was collected on 22/6/80. Mourning Cloak R.E. Gehlert
Tawny Crescentspot (Phyciodes batesii) - Uncommon in shrub communities in Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) - Fair¬ coulees from 10 June to 11 July: 10/6/80, ly common in May, occasional during 9-11/7/80. To date these are the most rest of the flight period in poplar woods western records of this species along the and shrub communities in the coulees Milk River drainage. and river valley: 6/5/76 WS, 6/7/76 WS, 20/7/84. Anicia Checkerspot (Euphydryas anicia) - Scarce; two females were collected by Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis milber- Kondla and Thormin along Police Creek ti) - Uncommon in poplar woods and 10/6/80. Outside of the Cypress Hills this shrub communities in the coulees and is the most southeasterly record for the river valley: 10/6/80, 27/6/83, 15/7/83. province. These were probably wind¬ blown strays from the Sweetgrass Hills Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - Common populations. in 1983 commencing in late June in all habitats: 26-27/6/83, 15/7/83. Satyr Anglewing (Polygonia satyrus) - Scarce in poplar woods and shrub communities Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - Scarce in in coulees and river valley; recorded on¬ disturbed areas in coulees: 28/5/81. ly during July: 22/7/76 WS, 10/7/80. Out¬ side of the Cypress Hills, these are the White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis southeasternmost records for Alberta. rubrofasciata) - Occasional in poplar woods in river valley and in shrubbery Gray Comma (Polygonia progne) - Only in coulees: 22/7/76 WS, 10/6/80 TT. one record of an individual 22/7/76 WS These are the most southeastern records in a shrub community in Police Coulee. for Alberta outside of the Cypress Hills. This is one of the most southeasterly records for the province outside of the Weidemeyer's X White Admiral (Limenitis Cypress Hills. weidemeyerii x i. arthemis) - Uncom¬ mon in shrub communities in Police Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vau- Coulee from 10 June to 23 July. It is in¬ album) - Uncommon in shrub com¬ teresting to note that to date no munities in coulees: 6/5/76 WS. These Weidemeyer's have been found in the are the southeasternmost reports for the study area although it has been reported province. for the lower Milk River.8 Kondla : has
December 1985.43(4) 219 also found it in the Sweetgrass Hills. Ex¬ Large Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala ino) aminations by the authors of the Common in grasslands from 11 July to Weidemeyer's specimens from Writing- 29 August. on-Stone reported by Smith and Bird in 1977 has resulted in changing their iden¬ Small Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus) - tification to hybrids. Common in grasslands from 11 July to 29 August. Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) - Common in Riding's Satyr (Neominois ridingsii) - Occa¬ poplar woods and shrub communities sional in dry grasslands: 10-11/7/80. along the Milk River and in the coulees during July. Uhler's Arctic (Oeneis uhleri varuna) - Oc¬ casional in dry grasslands during late SATYRIDAE - Meadow Browns May and early June: 28/5/81.
Prairie Ringlet (Coenonympha inornata Alberta Arctic (Oeneis alberta) - Occasional benjamini) - Fairly common in in dry grasslands in the latter half of May: grasslands from 28 May to 26 June. 16/5/82.
Riding's Satyr Cary W. Seib
Discussion the provincial fauna. This is the result of a lack of any coniferous woods habitat and Sixty-six species, representing six of the the fact that many species in these families seven families of butterflies found in Alberta have more northern and western distribu¬ were recorded in the study area. Table 1 tions. In the Police Coulee fauna 56% of compares the Rhopaloceran fauna of the taxa have a widespread Alberta distribution, study area to that of Alberta. There is a 17% are from prairie/parkland, 14% from slightly lower representation of Pierids and prairie only, 12% with a prairie/cordilleran Satyrids in the study area as compared to distribution and 1 % are found only in cor-
220 Blue Jay Table 1. COMPARISON OF POLICE COULEE STUDY AREA AND PROVINCIAL RHOPALOCERAN FAUNA
Family Police Coulee Province # of Species % of Fauna # of Species % of Fauna
Hesperiidae 12 18 26 17 Palpilionidae 4 6 6 4 Pieridae 6 9 21 13.5 Lycaenidae 15 23 34 22 Nymphalidae 23 35 49 31.5 Danaidae 0 0 1 0.5 Satyridae 6 9 18 11.
Totals 66 155 dilleran habitats. The Anicia Checkerspot The relatively large number of species is the cordilleran species recorded in this recorded for the Police Coulee area is the area, and occurs only as windblown strays result of the interspersion of a number of from the Sweetgrass Hills. different habitats and the proximity of the Sweetgrass Hills. Another area that has been extensively studied in southern Alber¬ Of the 66 species recorded for the study ta is the Milk River - Lost River area located area 19 were recorded during May, 34 dur¬ about 50 mi. east of Police Coulee.3 4 8 10 ing June, 43 during July and 13 during Both areas have similar habitats, except the August. The greatest diversity of species oc¬ lower Milk River - Lost River area lacks the curs in mid-July. It is interesting to note that coulees connecting directly to the this mid-July peak in this grassland Sweetgrass Hills and the higher elevation ecoregion coincides with that found in the grasslands of the Mixed Grass Ecoregion. mainly mountain forest study areas of Banff Table 2 compares the butterfly fauna of the National Park and the Indian Grave area.1 6 two areas on a family level. The best places to observe butterflies in the study area are the coulee edges, the shrub The Police Coulee area is a meeting area and treed areas, and along the creeks. of western and eastern species. A number
View of study area looking from north boundary to the south H.W. Pine!
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222 Blue Jay of butterfly species are at the limits of their 3 KONDLA, N.G. 1983 Additional records of skip¬ known range in Alberta. The Delaware pers and butterflies from Dinosaur Provincial Skipper, Sagebrush Checkerspot and Tawny Park. Alberta Naturalist 13(4): 152-157. Crescentspot are at the western edge of 4 KONDLA, N.G., T.W. THORMIN and T. PIKE their range along the Milk River drainage. 1981 Oslar's Roadside Skipper in Alberta. Examples of species at the southeastern Alberta Naturalist 11 (1): 15-16. edge of their known range in Alberta in¬ clude Yellowpatch Skipper, Tawny-edged 5 MILLER, L.O. and F.M. BROWN 1981 A Skipper, Pembina Blue, Satyr Anglewing, catalogue/checklist of the butterflies of Gray Comma, Compton Tortoiseshell, America north of Mexico. The Lepidopterists Anicia Checkerspot and Silver-bordered Society, Memoir No. 2. 280 pp. Fritillary. 6 PINEL, H.W. 1983 Skippers and butterflies of the Indian Grave Campground area, Alber¬ Similar habitat and larval food plants ex¬ ta. Blue Jay 42(2):71-77. ist in the Police Coulee area for those 10 'vO species already recorded for the Milk River 7 PYLE, R.M. 1981 The Audubon Society field - Lost River area, but not at Police Coulee guide to North American butterflies. Chan¬ (Table 2). Of these 10 species the authors ticleer Press. N.Y. 916 pp. feel that the chances of recording Rhesus Skipper (Yvretta rhesus) and Small 8 SMITH, W.W. and C.D. BIRD 1977 Some but¬ Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura) are terflies and skippers from the Milk River - Lost River area of southeastern Alberta. Blue Jay much less due to their distribution; these 35(1 ):1 5-18. are probably strays to Alberta from the United States. Additional species likely to 9 STRONG, W.L. and K.R. LEGGAT 1981 be found in the area include Nevada Skip¬ Ecoregions of Alberta. Alberta Energy and per (Hesperia nevada), Great Copper {Ly- Natural Resources, Tech. Rept. No. T/4. 64 caena xanthoides), Meadow Fritillary PP- (Boloria bellona), Edith's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha), Green Comma ,0 THORMIN, T.W., N.G. KONDLA and C.D. {Polygonia faunus rusticus) and Common BIRD 1980 Further records of skippers and butterflies from the Milk River - Lost River area Alpine (Erebia epipsodea). Because Police of southeastern Alberta. Blue Jay 38(1 ):5-10. Coulee is at the southern edge of the pro¬ vince next to the Sweetgrass Hills new EDITOR'S NOTE: Rhesus Skipper and Small species for Alberta recorded as migrants, Checkered Skipper both occur in Saskatchewan windblown strays or range extensions are as fresh specimens that are apparently locally more likely to be found here than in most emerged. - Ron Hooper. other parts of the province. CORRECTION.. In the article Skip¬ pers and Butterflies of Crimson Lake Pro¬ vincial Park, Alberta by Harold W. Pinel Acknowledgements [Blue Jay 43(3): 155-159] there was an omis¬ Thanks are extended to Wayne Smith, sion of several lines from the text of page Felix Sperling and Terry Thormin for their 158. The article should read as follows: observations. Linda Pinel typed the manuscript. Frigga Fritillary (Boloria frigga saga) - Oc¬ casional in damp grassy areas bordering 1 BIRD, C.D. 1975 A calendar of the skippers and tamarack bogs; 10-11/6/83, 14/6/84. butterflies of Banff National Park. Alberta Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija freija) - Com¬ Naturalist 5:71-75. mon in mixed woods and pine woods; 2 HOWE, W.H. 1975 The butterflies of North flight period recorded form 16 May to America. Doubleday and Company Inc., N.Y. 16 June; 16/5/78, 31/5/79, 10-11/6/83, 633 pp. 18 + 20/5/84, 15-16/6/84.
December 1985.43(4) 223