U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Dakota dacotae The Dakota skipper has been proposed for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It is a small butterfly with a 1-inch wingspan. Like other skippers, it has a thick body and a faster, more powerful flight than most . The upper side of the male’s wings range from tawny-orange to brown with a prominent mark on the forewing; the lower surface is dusty yellow-orange. The upper side of the female’s wing is darker brown with tawny-orange spots and a few white spots on the forewing margin; the lower side is gray-brown with a faint white spot band across the middle. Dakota skippers are found only in high quality .

Range Photo by USFWS; Phil Delphey Historically, scientists recorded Dakota skippers from northeast Concern is growing about the status in June and July, females lay eggs Illinois to southern . of the Dakota skipper in Minnesota, on the underside of leaves 1 to 2 However, their actual historical however, after two years in which inches above the ground. Eggs take range is not known because extensive extensive surveys located the species about 10 days to hatch into larvae destruction of native preceded at only one site. (caterpillar). After hatching, larvae build shelters at or below the ground widespread biological surveys in Habitat surface and emerge at night to feed the central . Dakota Dakota skippers are found in on grass leaves. This continues until skippers likely lived throughout a two types of habitat. One type is fall when larvae become dormant. relatively unbroken and vast area of moist bluestem prairie in which They overwinter in shelters at or grassland in the north-central U.S. three wildflower species are just below ground level, usually in and south-central . Today, usually blooming when Dakota the base of native bunchgrasses. The they have been lost from Illinois skippers are adults: wood lily following spring, larvae emerge to and Iowa and are present only ( philadelphicum), harebell continue developing. Pupation takes in scattered and mostly isolated (Campanula rotundifolia) and about 10 days and usually happens in sites in Minnesota, the Dakotas smooth camas (Zygadenus elegans). June. Adult males emerge about five and southern Canada. Since 2002, The second type is upland prairie days before females and the adults the number of sites where Dakota that is relatively dry and often found live for three weeks, at most. This skippers can be found has been on on ridges and hillsides. Bluestem brief period is the only time that an overall downward trend with a grasses and needlegrasses dominate Dakota skippers can reproduce. more dramatic decrease after 2010. these prairies; purple coneflower Currently it can be found at only half (Echinacea angustifolia) is typical If a female Dakota skipper lives for of the sites where it was previously of high quality sites that support this the full three weeks and adequate recorded. The most significant skipper, although the Dakota skipper flowers for nectar are available, populations may be in western also uses other flowers for nectar. Minnesota, northeastern South she may lay up to 250 eggs. Nectar Dakota, north-central North Dakota Ecology and Life History provides Dakota skippers with both and southern ; an area Dakota skippers have four basic water and food and is crucial for the that straddles the border between life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and survival of both sexes during the tallgrass and mixed grass prairies. adult. During the brief adult period adult flight period. Reasons for current status construction, and gravel mining. native prairie on lands with Dakota Dakota skipper populations declined Prescribed fire, which may improve skippers; mainly prescribed fire and historically because of widespread the quality of the native prairie, must grazing. Each presents a significant conversion of native prairie to farms, be used carefully because it may challenge when trying to conserve ranches and other land uses. They kill a significant number of Dakota Dakota skipper. The Service will may persist on ranches where skippers in the burned area. encourage managers and biologists grazing is not too intense, but are lost to work together using science-based from sites where native vegetation Although threats are numerous, adaptive management methods, such is plowed or killed with herbicides. there are opportunities to address as Strategic Habitat Conservation, States and Canadian provinces in the them to effectively conserve the to develop and refine management historical range of Dakota skipper skipper. Dakota skippers and their strategies that are practical and have lost 85% to 99% of their original native prairie habitat depend on some conserve Dakota skippers. tallgrass prairie. Small, isolated type of periodic disturbance, without patches of native prairie are what which the prairie would become On tribal lands in South Dakota – on remains of this once vast ecosystem; shrubby or forested. Therefore, the Lake Traverse Reservation of the Dakota skippers persist on only some grazing, fire, or mowing is necessary Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate – several of these prairie remnants. for the skipper to persist. Because sites with Dakota skippers are these practices may also eliminate hayed after the flight period. This Dakota skippers are sensitive to populations, depending on the management maintains native prairie several types of disturbances and specifics of how they are carried out, and appears to work well for Dakota are almost always absent from however, they must be used carefully skippers, although haying should overgrazed or otherwise degraded to ensure skipper survival. not be conducted too soon after the remnant prairies. Because of this flight period. Not all Dakota skipper What’s being done to conserve sensitivity, historical persistence of habitats are amenable to haying; sites Dakota skippers probably depended Dakota skipper? that are too rocky or hilly may need The Service, states, and others on the vastness of the prairie to be managed with fire, grazing, or a have been working with private and availability of immigrants to combination of the two. landowners and other partners in repopulate habitats where the species North Dakota, South Dakota and had been eliminated by intense The Minnesota Zoo’s Prairie Minnesota to conserve the Dakota disturbance, such as wildfire or heavy Butterfly program is beginning skipper’s native prairie habitat. With bison grazing. Many remaining experiments with propagation of cooperation from many landowners, populations of Dakota skipper are Dakota skipper. The zoo obtained we are able to survey for and study now isolated. Habitats occupied by Dakota skipper eggs from wild Dakota skippers and have entered these populations are too far from females in South Dakota in 2013 and into cooperative agreements to other occupied sites to be recolonized is now rearing the species at the conserve their native prairie habitat. after one or more factors results in zoo. Propagation could become a Conservation of the Dakota skipper the species local extinction. Even if valuable conservation tool if efficient depends on land stewardship they persist at isolated sites, the lack methods are developed and if carried out by private landowners of interaction with other populations sufficient numbers with appropriate because, excluding lands owned by is likely to reduce genetic diversity levels of genetic diversity are conservation organizations such as and lead to a diminished ability to produced. The final test, of course, The Nature Conservancy, about 50 adapt to environmental changes. would be to release into high quality percent of all known populations are habitats from which the species has on private lands. Public agencies are been extirpated. In the meantime, Although some native prairie actively seeking private landowners and have adaptations that the ability to propagate Dakota who are willing to sell easements skipper in captivity could provide an allow them to survive in modern or secure conservation agreements agricultural landscapes, the Dakota important hedge against extinction in that promote land use practices that the wild. skipper does not. Dakota skippers help conserve the Dakota skipper need high-quality prairie that has and other native prairie species. retained a large part of its original Finally, research is ongoing to better These easements often simply ensure understand Dakota skippers, such native diversity. The future of continuation of existing land uses many prairies where this butterfly as the species genetic diversity, and that are compatible with prairie surveys for the species are ongoing to persists is not secure because of conservation. threats from over-grazing, conversion locate populations yet undiscovered. to row crops, herbicide use, woody Public land managers use a variety www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered and non-native plant invasion, road of management tools to conserve October 2013