Grassland Butterfly Conservation Program

The Poweshiek skipperling takes one year to complete its life cycle. It is active in its adult form for only two to three weeks in June and July when they breed and females lay eggs on grasses found in tall grass prairie habitat. When the eggs hatch, caterpillars emerge and feed on grasses, before spending the winter at the base of plants under the snow. The following spring, the caterpillar will form a chrysalis, and emerge as an adult that June or July to repeat the cycle.

Less than 1% of the native prairie habitat that once covered Manitoba remains to this day. This habitat is critical for the Poweshiek skipperling as well as other grassland-specialist species. Most of this land has been converted to agriculture. Other threats include climate change, pesticide use, overgrazing, fire, and invasive species.

Critically Endangered - Poweshiek skipperling have been listed as endangered in Canada since 2014 and the USA since 2013. The IUCN RedList of Threatened Species lists Poweshiek skipperling as Critically Endangered globally. Manitoba is the only province in Canada where the Poweshiek skipperling can still be found.

The historic range of Poweshiek skipperling. Today, it can only be found in Manitoba and one site in Michigan. 

Black dots on the map represent confirmed historical locations (now extirpated), shaded areas represent inferred historical habitat. Source: Saarinen et al. 2016

The Dakota skipper takes one year to complete its life cycle. Adult butterflies are active for three to five weeks during June and July. During that time, they will breed and lay their eggs on grasses found in tall- and mixed-grass prairie habitats. When the eggs hatch, caterpillars emerge and will move close to the soil, where they will build a protective shelter of plant material and silk. Caterpillars will emerge from their shelter to feed on native grasses throughout the summer, building larger shelters as they grow. Caterpillars will overwinter inside their shelters at the base of these plants under the snow. In the spring, caterpillars will form a chrysalis inside a specially made shelter before emerging as an adult in June or July to repeat the cycle.

Prairie grassland habitats are critical to the survival of the Dakota skipper, as well as other grassland-specialist species. Today, less than 1% of the native prairie habitat that once covered Manitoba remains. Much of this area has been converted to agriculture. Other threats to Dakota skipper populations include climate change, fire, overgrazing, pesticide use, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species.

Endangered – Dakota skipper have been listed as endangered in Canada since 2014 and threatened in the USA since 2014. The IUCN RedList of Threatened Species lists the Dakota skipper as Endangered globally. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces in Canada where the Dakota skipper can be found.

Historically, Dakota skipper could be found in mixed- and tall-grass prairies within Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Illinois, and Minnesota. Today, there are only three populations left in Canada and a small number remaining in North and South Dakota, and Minnesota.

The shaded area on the map represents confirmed current distribution. Modified from Environment Canada 2007.

Environment Canada. 2007. Recovery Strategy for the Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 25 pp.

The University of Winnipeg, The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Province of Manitoba, Assiniboine Park Zoo, and other experts are working together to form the Canadian section of the Poweshiek Protection Team. Many of these partners also work together to guide the conservation efforts of Dakota skipper within the province of Manitoba. We are actively working on recovery and research projects that will help us understand and supplement the wild populations of Poweshiek skipperling and Dakota skipper that remain.

We are running a captive rearing and head-starting program for the endangered Poweshiek skipperling and Dakota skipper in collaboration with local and international experts.

Each summer a small number of wild female Poweshiek skipperlings and Dakota skippers are brought to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for a short period of time to lay eggs. After laying, these female butterflies are returned to their natural habitat. In addition to these wild females, we also breed a small number of captive reared Poweshiek skipperlings at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Once the eggs hatch, we provide optimal growing conditions for the caterpillars, including overwintering in a climate-controlled incubator, until they are ready to be released as adults the following summer. Our team of staff, students, and volunteers also conduct surveys to monitor the heath and abundance of wild skipperling and skipper populations and to gauge the success of our head-starting program.

You may not have prairie habitat where you live, but pollinating insects and rare habitats are everywhere. Protect habitat and support organizations who are working towards that goal. You can also create habitat for species at your home, school, work, and community.