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Polixenes Arctic
Oeneis polixenes (Fabricius, 1775)
Attributes of Oeneis polixenesFamily: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Subfamily: Satyrs and Wood-Nymphs (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. 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. Wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/8 inches (4.2 - 5.4 cm). 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. NatureServe Global Status: 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. | Documented Records for Oeneis polixenes
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