First Record of Panoquina panoquin (Salt Marsh Skipper) Ovipositing on Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass)
2021
Van Dongen, Catherine M. | Rakes, Logan M. | Moriarty, Joseph W. | Mason, Sam | Leu, Matthias
Panoquina panoquin (Salt Marsh Skipper) is an understudied butterfly that resides primarily in coastal salt marshes throughout the southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Based on our review of online databases and published literature, this species may use several different host plants, though Distichlis spicata (Saltgrass) is most commonly cited. While surveying salt marsh butterfly communities in southeastern Virginia in 2019, we observed 25 oviposition events from female Salt Marsh Skippers, all of which laid their eggs exclusively on Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass). This is the first conclusive record of the Salt Marsh Skipper using this species of grass for egg laying. Our observations broaden the understanding of Salt Marsh Skipper habitat requirements and therefore inform conservation efforts for this species in the face of degradation of salt marshes throughout its range.
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