Surveys for the Recovery of Mitchells Satyr Butterfly (Neonympha m. mitchellii) in Michigan: Final Report - 2000 Prepared by: Daria A. Hyde, Mary L. Rabe, David L. Cuthrell, Michael A. Kost Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 Lansing, MI 48909-7944 For: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Endangered Species Office Federal Building, Fort Snelling Twin Cities, MN 55111 Report Number 2001-05 Submitted March 31, 2001 Cover Photo Identification and Credits: Prairie fen habitat photo by: Michael A. Kost Mitchells satyr photo by: Daria A. Hyde Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mitchells Satyr Surveys and Threat Assessment ......................................................................................................... 4 Surveys for Associated Rare Species ........................................................................................................................... 4 Mitchells Satyr Monitoring ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Michells Satyr Oviposition Observations and Larval Searches .................................................................................. 6 Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Landowner Contact ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Mitchells Satyr Surveys and Threat Assessment ......................................................................................................... 7 Surveys for Associated Rare Species ......................................................................................................................... 10 Mitchells Satyr Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Mitchells Satyr Oviposition Observations and Larval Searches ............................................................................... 15 Conservation Planning ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Threats Identified at Mitchells Satyr Sites ................................................................................................................ 16 Historical Changes at Mitchells Satyr Sites .............................................................................................................. 18 Vegetative Characteristics and Succession at Mitchells Satyr Sites .......................................................................... 22 Management Considerations for Prairie Fens and Mitchells Satyr Sites .................................................................. 22 Working With Partners.............................................................................................................................................. 24 Site Summaries .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Barry County South ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Barry County Southwest .................................................................................................................................... 25 Berrien County North ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Berrien County South ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Branch County Site ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Cass County East ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Cass County Northwest ..................................................................................................................................... 27 Cass County Southwest ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Jackson County Central ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Jackson County East .......................................................................................................................................... 29 Jackson County West ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Kalamazoo County East .................................................................................................................................... 29 Kalamazoo County North .................................................................................................................................. 30 Kalamazoo County West.................................................................................................................................... 30 Lenawee County Site ......................................................................................................................................... 30 St. Joseph County East ...................................................................................................................................... 31 St. Joseph County West ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Van Buren County Northeast )........................................................................................................................... 32 Van Buren County Site ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Washtenaw County West ................................................................................................................................... 32 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................................................ 34 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix 1. MNFI Mitchells Satyr Survey Form .................................................................................................... 39 Appendix 1. Species Abstracts ................................................................................................................................. 39 PrairieFen .......................................................................................................................................................... 43 Mat muhley grass .............................................................................................................................................. 47 Prairie dropseed ................................................................................................................................................. 49 Prairie Indian plaintain....................................................................................................................................... 51 Small white ladys-slipper .................................................................................................................................. 55 Blanchards cricket frog ...................................................................................................................................... 59 Blandings turtle ................................................................................................................................................. 63 Blazing star borer moth ...................................................................................................................................... 67 Culvers root borer moth .................................................................................................................................... 71 Eastern box turtle ................................................................................................................................................ 75 Eastern massasauga ............................................................................................................................................ 79 Mitchells satyr ..................................................................................................................................................