Attributes of Oeneis polixenes
Polixenes Arctic
Oeneis polixenes (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Identification: Wings are somewhat translucent. Upperside is gray-brown; male has no markings, female may have 2 small black eyespots. Underside of hindwing is mottled gray, brown, and black and has a distinct median band outlined in white.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/8 inches (4.2 - 5.4 cm).
Life History: Males patrol and occasionally perch during the day in grassy swales to seek females. Two years are required to complete development; the first winter is passed by first-stage caterpillars, the second winter by mature caterpillars.
Flight: One brood from mid-June to early August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grasses and sedges.
Adult Food: Occasionally flower nectar.
Habitat: Open wet tundra.
Range: Alaska east through the North American arctic to Baffin Island, Labrador, eastern Quebec, and central Maine. Isolated populations in the Rocky Mountains south to northern New Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required. Subspecies katahdin on Mt. Katahdin, Maine is geographically restricted but may not be of concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Determine status on Mt. Katahdin, Maine and monitor periodically.
Taxonomy Notes:
Images of Oeneis polixenes
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The map below displays all verified sighting records in the BAMONA database for this species. Each record is indicated with a yellow dot. The orange dots on the map provide access to information about the 400 most recently verified sightings of this species. In some instances, there are several records at the same location. Use the table view to access these records.
Instructions: Click on the map and move your mouse to pan.
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The fifty most recently verified sightings are below. See more recently verified sightings of all species.
| Observation Date | Submitter | Region |
Verified Date |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2001 | legacy.reporter (KWP) | North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| July 01, 2001 | legacy.reporter (KWP) | North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| July 02, 2006 | legacy.reporter (YU) | North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| July 10, 1996 | legacy.reporter (JLH) | Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| June 30, 1998 | legacy.reporter (ALS) | Yukon-Koyukuk Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| June 22, 1997 | legacy.reporter (F/P) | Denali Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| July 07, 1996 | legacy.reporter (KWP) | Denali Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| June 24, 1999 | legacy.reporter (JLH) | North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States | January 23, 2008 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Alaska, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Larimer County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Grand County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Eagle County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Park County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Lake County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Chaffee County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Gunnison County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Pitkin County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Summit County, Colorado, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Piscataquis County, Maine, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Carbon County, Montana, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Taos County, New Mexico, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Mora County, New Mexico, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Park County, Wyoming, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Teton County, Wyoming, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Sublette County, Wyoming, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Fremont County, Wyoming, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details |
