BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Carterocephalus mandan
Arctic Skipper
| Scientific Name: | Carterocephalus mandan |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Arctic Skipper |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S2? |
| Date Status Assigned: | March 31, 2021 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 31, 2021 |
| Reasons: | Threats to the Peace river grasslands habitats, small number of occurrences. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | DE = 1,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | This species is considered a widespread species, yet is never common within any one area (Guppy and Shepard 2001). The range extent is within the Peace Region, between Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Clayhurst areas (Guppy and Shepard 2001) and is estimated at 50 km X 70 km, or 3500 square kilometres. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | DE = 6-125 |
| Area of Occupancy Estimate (km2): | 112 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | This calculation includes the currently mapped occurrences as well as older records noted in Guppy and Shepard 2001: 28 x 4 km2 grid cells, 112 km2. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | BC = 6 - 80 |
| Comments: | There are many records within the Royal BC Museum, BC Conservation Data Centre and UBC Spencer Entomological Collections, although it is uncertain if all refer to this species. There are additional BC records also within the Peace Region, within the Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Clayhurst areas (Guppy and Shepard 2001), (Kondla, 2003), (Keystone Wildlife Research Ltd. 2012). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | This species is considered a widespread species, yet is not observed to be common within any one area (Guppy and Shepard 2001). The Taylor locations for the species are likely not threatened, but the historic records and viability are unknown. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | A = None |
| Comments: | There are no populations within protected areas. |
| Population Size: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Known to have a restricted flight period. Species is thought to take two years to complete its life cycle. Some populations are known to occur in even-numbered or odd-numbered years (Guppy and Shepard 2001). This biological limitation may affect the interpretation of population assessments. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | AB = Very high - high |
| Comments: | Threats to butterflies that occur in the Peace corridor include agriculture (ie. hayfields and canola), recreational activities such as ATV's, trail bikes and snowmobiles; fire and fire suppression that causes ingrowth of shrubs and forest; wind turbines on hilltops; potential dam activity including complete loss of habitat, change in humidity, flooding and landslides, transmission lines and roads; pollutants such as herbicides and pesticides; grazing and livestock trampling on the hilltops; and detrimental affects from climate change (C. Guppy, pers. com. 2013). |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The Peace River grassland areas are potentially threatened by over-grazing and agriculture, combined with all terrain vehicle use in areas popular for such recreational use. |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Invasive plant and invertebrate species threaten grassland ecosystems throughout the province, and the effects of long-term overgrazing also threaten grassland ecosystems. |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Comments: | Butterfly populations (in general) experience yearly population fluctuations as a result of localized climatic events. For example, early season food plant senescence will cause larval numbers to ultimately decrease, thus resulting in the potential for fewer adults the following year. |
| Environmental Specificity: | C=Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | All butterflies require specific food plants (larval and adult) to complete their life cycle. The foodplant is thought to be purple reed grass (Calamagrostis purpurascens) (Guppy and Shepard 2001). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Specimens within the Royal BC Museum and UBC Spencer Entomological Collections should be reviewed as species of Carterocephalus may be misidentified within these collections. Research on the life history of the species; population sizes at each known location; accurately quantify specific habitat requirements (food plant density, size of habitat patch, et.), dispersal capabilities, reproductive success and population viability. Additional research to assess the potential impacts of predation, parasitism, climatic variation, small population size, and population isolation is also needed. Research is required to assess the potential threats to habitat including grazing, invasive weeds, adjacent property management and wild fire. Research is also required to assess potential threats from pesticide use and heavy livestock grazing on all life stages. |
| Inventory Needs: | Inventory and monitoring of butterflies within grassland ecosystems in the Peace region. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | No populations of this species are known to be within protected areas. The subspecies should be noted in protected areas, and monitored yearly for threats to the habitat and longevity of the colony within the location. |
| Management: | Species is known to occur on roadside and woodland edges, thus it could be a potential candidate for the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy under the Forest and Range Practices Act. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Marks, D. |
| Date: | March 15, 2021 |
| References | |
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Guppy, C.S., and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 414pp.
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Kondla, N. 2003. N. Kondla's Lepidoptera observation database.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2021. Conservation Status Report: Carterocephalus mandan. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).