Amblyscirtes vialis

Amblyscirtes vialis is resident in most of southern Canada and the United States except the southwestern corner (Scott 1986). Habitats are Gulf Coast to Canadian zone mostly wooded areas. Host plants are grasses, restricted to several genera including Uniola, Poa, Agrostis, and many other grass species in the lab. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as larvae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time late May ? June 30 most places, June 10-July 15 in the northern and high altitude parts of the range, and late March-May 15 in the southern part of the range (Scott 1986).

The combination of the small size (22 - 25mm wingspan), dark brown colour with a frosted gray hindwing underside, and pale subapical forewing spots will serve to distinguish this species from other skippers in the province.

The Roadside Skipper has a transcontinental distribution, found from coast to coast, north to Ft. Smith, NWT and south to Texas and Florida (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999). In Alberta it occurs in the boreal and parkland regions, but is restricted to riparian habitats in the prairie region (Bird et al. 1995).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Found in grassy clearings and along the edges of poplar forest.

Comments: Very hard to predict in many areas. Usually deciduous woodlands or clearings, streamsides, roads, edges of deciduous forest. Also dry mixed oak-pine forest, rocky barrens, glades, or right of ways through forests.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

The larval host plant in Alberta is not known, although broad-leaf grasses are likely. Elsewhere, larvae feed on Blue Grass (Poa pratensis), bent grass (Agrostis spp.), and Spikegrass (Uniola latifolia) (Layberry et al. 1998). Eggs are laid on Beardgrass (Andropogon sp.) and bluegrass (Poa sp.) in Michigan (Nielsen 1999). Adults nectar at a variety of flowers and sip moisture at damp soil (Nielsen 1999).

Adults feed on flower nectar and mud. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

There is one brood annually, with peak flight activity in early to mid June.

The eggs are round and creamy white (Bird et al. 1995). The larvae are pale green with paler green dots, and are covered with short downy hairs and a waxy secretion; the head is dull white with vertical reddish stripes (McCabe & Post 1977). Males establish territories in which they perch, and fly out to investigate other butterflies (Acorn 1993).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 12
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not of concern.

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

Reasons: This skipper probably is not in trouble globally. However, there has to be some doubt about that because it has become quite rare in the middle Atlantic region, e.g. only one or two known extant occurrences in New Jersey, and southern New England and the causes are not known. It is thus not known where the same factors will cause a range-wide crash. For now it seems secure northward and westward.