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Species Detail
Mulberry Wing
Poanes massasoit (Scudder, 1864)
Attributes of Poanes massasoitFamily: Skippers (Hesperiidae) Subfamily: Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Identification: Wings are dark brown to black, relatively short and rounded. Upperside has small (male) or larger (female) yellow spots. Underside of hindwing has a large irregular yellow patch; rare individuals are rust colored and have no patch. Life history: Males patrol with a low, weak, meandering flight through marshes in search for receptive females. Flight: One brood from late June to mid-August. Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 7/16 inches (2.9 - 3.7 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Uptight sedge (Carex stricta), and possibly others. Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Freshwater marshes or bogs. Range: New York and Massachusetts west across the Great Lakes states to southern Minnesota and North Dakota. A coastal population ranges from southern New Hampshire south to Maryland. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Poanes massasoit
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