North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Oarisma garita is a year-round resident in the central-western Canada from Alberta to Manitoba, the United States south to Arizona, and ranges to southern Mexico (Scott 1986). Habitats are grassy places, prairie, and open woodland. Host plants are grasses of multiple species. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as fourth instar larvae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time mostly June 15-July 31, June 1-July 15 in low altitude in Colorado (Scott 1986).
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
No conservation concerns.
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Cyclicity
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Peak flight activity is in late June to early July.
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Distribution
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Alberta east to Manitoba and south to Texas (Opler 1999). There is a disjunct population in the Peace River parkland.
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General Description
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This small skipper (wingspan 19 - 25 mm) is most likely to be confused with the European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola). Garita has a greenish hindwing underside with pale-coloured venation, while the European Skipper has an orange-brown hindwing underside without marked veins. The upperside is tawny brown, compared to bright orange-brown with dark veins in lineola.
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Habitat
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Parkland and prairie grasslands, particularly native fescue and mixed grass prairie.
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Life Cycle
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The egg has been variously reported as being green (Bird et al. 1995) or creamy white (Gibson 1910); larvae are green with pale lines and bands, with short black bristles on the head and body (Gibson 1910, Bird et al. 1995); the overwintering stage is either as a partially grown (Bird et al. 1995) or mature larva (Gibson 1910, Scott 1986). There is one generation annually.
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Trophic Strategy
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The larval host plant has not been recorded in Canada; Larvae will eat Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in captivity (Gibson 1910). Adults take nectar at flowers of legumes (Hooper 1973), and at Polygala alba, Potentilla fruticosa, and Oxytropis lambertii in North Dakota (McCabe & Post 1977).
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Oarisma garita
provided by wikipedia EN
Oarisma garita, the Garita skipperling, western skipperling or Garita skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). This skipper ranges southeastern Manitoba to British Columbia and south through the American Midwest as far south as Mexico.[2] Its habitats include dry or moist prairies, open woodlands, and limestone outcrops.[3]
Description
Colored orange brown on the upperside. The underside of the forewings are also orange but hindwings are dark gray with orange inner margins and gray-white veins.[2]
Wingspan is from 20 to 25 mm.[2]
Behavior
Flies from mid-June through mid-July.[2] Larvae feed on Sitanion, Blephanoneuron, Stipa, Poa and Bouteloua.[1] Adults feed on flower nectar.[3]
References
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Oarisma garita: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Oarisma garita, the Garita skipperling, western skipperling or Garita skipper, is a North American butterfly in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), subfamily Hesperiinae (grass skippers). This skipper ranges southeastern Manitoba to British Columbia and south through the American Midwest as far south as Mexico. Its habitats include dry or moist prairies, open woodlands, and limestone outcrops.
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