North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Oeneis macounii is resident of central Canada (Scott 1986). Habitats are open jack pine forest clearings and stony spruce ridges. Host plants are unknown. This species is biennial; individuals overwinter as first or second instar larvae the first winter, and as mature larvae the second winter. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time June 15-July 15 (Scott 1986).
Behavior
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Adults feed on flower nectar, occasionally. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Not of concern.
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Cyclicity
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One flight per year or every other year, peaking in early June to early July.
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Distribution
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Almost entirely restricted to Canada, only reaching the US in MN and MI (Layberry et al. 1998). Occurs in central BC and southwestern NWT east to southern Quebec.
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General Description
provided by University of Alberta Museums
"Our largest species of arctic. Upperside bright rust-brown with a dark brown border, and usually two forewing eyespots. The underside has a striated brown-black and white appearance, with a loose and poorly defined median band.
In Alberta, only O. chryxus chryxus is similar, but male chryxus have a dark forewing discal patch and are slightly smaller. Female chryxus have at least three rather than two equal-sized forewing eyespots. There are no described subspecies."
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Habitat
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Dry, open pine woods.
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Life Cycle
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"Macoun's Arctic requires two years to complete its life cycle, and flies only in alternate years in most localities. Boreal populations fly mostly in odd-numbered years (Hooper 1973, Bird et al. 1995). Mountain populations are not entirely synchronous with boreal ones, since they fly in both odd- and even-numbered years.
Adults have a characteristic leisurely, hopping flight, and males perch on tree branches at the edge of clearings to await passing females."
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Trophic Strategy
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The larval hosts are not known, altough larva eat grasses and sedges in captivity (Scott 1986).
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Oeneis macounii
provided by wikipedia EN
Oeneis macounii, the Canada Arctic[1] or Macoun's Arctic,[2] is a butterfly of subfamily Satyrinae that occurs in North America.
Description
The wingspan is 46 to 65 mm.[2] The wings are bright orange brown with black borders on both wings. There are two black eyespots on each forewing and one on each hindwing.[3]
Similar species
Range and habitat
Occurs from British Columbia to Quebec and south to Minnesota and Michigan.[1] The habitat consists of openings in forests of western jack or lodgepole pine and rocky ridges in spruce forest.[4]
Biology
There is one generation per year with adults on wing from early June to early July. East of south-eastern Manitoba, adults fly in even-numbered years. Westward, they are on wing in odd-numbered years.[3]
Larval foods
Adult foods
References
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Oeneis macounii: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Oeneis macounii, the Canada Arctic or Macoun's Arctic, is a butterfly of subfamily Satyrinae that occurs in North America.
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