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Species Detail
Garita Skipperling
Oarisma garita (Reakirt, 1866)
Attributes of Oarisma garitaFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Identification: Upperside ranges from orange to black. Underside of forewing is orange; hindwing is light brown with orange on the inner edge. Life history: Adults are weak fliers. To find receptive females, males patrol all day in grassy areas. Females lay eggs singly on grass stems or blades. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate. Flight: One brood from June-July. Wing span: 3/4 - 1 3/16 inches (1.9 - 3 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Various grasses including bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Short-grass prairie knolls, swales, limestone openings, open woodland, mountain meadows. Range: High plains from central Alberta east to southern Manitoba, south through the Rocky Mountain region to northern Mexico. Strays east to central Ontario. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Oarisma garita
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