Pyrgus ruralis ruralis

Photo Life History: Pyrgus ruralis ruralis

Habitat:   Mountain Canyons; Mountain Hilltops

Host Plants:  Potentilla glandulosa; Fragaria vesca

Suitable Lab Host Plants: Potentilla hippiana; Potentilla fruticosa

How to Find Female Butterflies:  Click here.

How to Care for Live Female Butterflies:  Click here.

Methods of Female Oviposition:  Portable Cages

How to Find Eggs:  Very difficult

How to Hatch Eggs: Consolidate eggs into one container

How to Find Caterpillars in the Field: Look for Skipper Nests.  (This has proven to be an unreliable method in Northern Utah as I have looked for hours for larvae and have only found one. The most reliable method for me to raise this butterfly is to get eggs from live females.  Productivity may be different in other regions of the country.)

How to Find Pupae in the Field:  Unknown.  Larvae may wander off plant before pupating in the field.

Caterpillar setups: Open terrariums; Open Bucket; Twin Cup Method;

Larva to Pupa:  

Number of Broods per Year: 1

Overwintering Stage:  pupa

Overwintering Strategies: Your Own Backyard; Refrigerator

Post-Hibernation Strategies:  Provide post-diapause pupae with warmer temperatures, long-day photoperiod; and higher humidity.  Pupae will emerge in conjunction with the new growth of its larval host plants in the spring or early summer.

Avoiding Diapause Techniques:  None.

Disease Prevention:   Change out host plant and remove frass every three to five days. 

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Field Notes: