The mottled duskywing butterfly (Erynnis martialis) was assessed as endangered in Canada in 2012, and continues to be threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use and other human activity. It has already been extirpated from Quebec and is now rare in Ontario and Manitoba.
These skippers occupy some of the scarcest habitats in Ontario, including oak savanna and tallgrass prairies that are home to their host plants - New Jersey Tea and Prairie Redroot.
These skippers occupy some of the scarcest habitats in Ontario, including oak savanna and tallgrass prairies that are home to their host plants - New Jersey Tea and Prairie Redroot.
I’m currently helping conduct a mark-resighting study with the University of Guelph for two of the largest remaining mottled duskywing populations in Ontario. Mottled duskywings are carefully marked with small dots so they can be recognized and re-sighted. The data we're collecting will fill knowledge gaps and pave the way for more effective future conservation efforts.
A freshly marked mottled duskywing nectars on its host plant, Prairie Redroot (Caenothus herbaceus)
Two butterfly species, the frosted elfin and karner blue, have already been extirpated in Ontario from the very same habitats that support the mottled duskywing. Preservation and restoration of these unique ecosystems is key to successful long-term conservation.
These little guys may not be as flashy or well-known as the monarch, but they are just as worthy of protection!
