[TN-Butterflies] Re: A look at Linda's Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes linda)
- From: "Michael Lee Bierly" <mlbierly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Tennessee Butterflies" <tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:11:24 -0500
While exploring the needs of the Bell's Roadside-Skipper, it was noted
that its host plant, Indian Woodoats Grass (Chasmanthium latifolia), which
is also know as Northern Sea Oats, is also the host plant for Linda's
Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes linda). The latter species is much rarer,
known in Tennessee from only one record, that in Madison County, and known
according to BAMONA from only six states. It has a NatureServe Global Status
of G2, "Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences). Even
finding live images on the web is difficult. BAMONA has only pinned
specimens. The Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation link for this
species is <http://www.xerces.org/lindas-roadside-skipper/>
http://www.xerces.org/lindas-roadside-skipper/. You can open up each
category for the species or just click on red list profile and that gives
you everything listed in the categories in one pdf file,
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/amblyscirtes_linda.pdf.
There is no image, but a concise history of the species including:
1. Is found in six states but at fewer than twenty locations (total of
15 counties), and in small numbers at every occurrence. Most of its
population is in southern Missouri.
2. Is a medium sized butterfly with a wing span of 29 to 34 mm (1? to 1
5/16 inches). On the dorsal side it is dark brown with a few light spots. On
the male the forewing stigma is obscure. Ventral side of the forewing is
deep brown with a black tip and of the hindwing is black-brown with gray
overscales and a band of pale gray spots.
3. Requires fairly undisturbed stream side habitat in deciduous
forests. Its major threats are from forest management operations, especially
logging and spraying.
4. Has two broods between April and July. Adults nectar on various
plants, including blackberry (Rubus sp.).
Images of the species can be found at
http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/Bfly%20pages/Lindas%20RS%20page.htm. This is the
site for Butterflies of Arkansas. There are four, what appear to be,
excelllent images of Linda's Roadside-Skipper with some identification
notes.
The flight time this year for the species appears near its end. For
those that travel the butterfly "fields" in West Tennessee, think about
sites that this species might occur. The only way of assisting it because of
such low numbers, is to find active sites and protect them. Here's hoping
for Tennessee record number two and soon.
Michael Lee Bierly, Nashville, Davidson County, TN
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