Hoary Edge
Achalarus lyciades (Geyer 1832)
Status: Very rare breeding resident.
Flight: Single brooded in Iowa, with records ranging from middle May to early June. It has been reported to fly until August in other states along the northern margin of its range.
Distinguishing features: The upper wing surface of the Hoary Edge is very reminiscent of the wing of the Silver-spotted Skipper, being brown with a gold band along the upper fore wing. The lower hind wing of the Hoary Edge lacks the central silver patch, however, instead having a hoary white-suffusion along the outer wing margin. Wing-span: 3.8-4.5 cm.
Distribution and habitat: Map 41. The Hoary Edge has only been collected for times in Iowa during the past forty years: three times from Waubonsie State Park in extreme southwestern Iowa and once from Des Moines in Polk County. The most recent reported collection date is 1969. No habitat information is available from these collections. Based on its behavior in nearby states, however, it was probably found in open woods and woodland edges. Judging by its distribution in surrounding states, it may eventually be found to occur rarely across the southern tier of Iowa counties.
Natural history: No information is available on the activities of this species in Iowa. Based on reports from nearby states, it is likely that its larvae eat various tick-trefoils.
Questions: What are the Hoary Edge's favored habitats and host plants? Is it able to survive the coldest Iowa winters, or does it have to recolonize from the south following such years? If global warming occurs, will this species become more common across southern Iowa?
