Description
The Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae) is a small, orange-brown butterfly with dark brown margins and faint markings, primarily found in native tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies in the northern Great Plains of North America, where it relies on undisturbed prairie habitats for survival. This species is listed as threatened due to habitat loss.
Range
Restricted to a few sites in far western Minnesota with the help of reintroduction programs at the Minnesota Zoo.
Similar Species
Cobweb skipper is similar but does not occur in the same range or habitat.
Host Plants
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), other grasses
Flight
Late June and July