
The Poweshiek skipperling butterly has a great name but is barely hanging on
This butterfly was classified as endangered just 10 years ago. The latest count found fewer than 70 left in the wild.

Once common across much of the Midwest, the Poweshiek skipperling butterfly is truly on the cusp of extinction. The most recent head count found fewer than 70 left in the wild.
It’s gone from Iowa, both Dakotas, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota. In a 2022 census, this little moth-like flyer was only found in one county in Michigan and one location in Manitoba, Canada. Just “toeholds” compared to the butterfly’s once vast habitat, as MLive’s Emily Bingham wrote.
As the MLive story points out, “The butterflies’ crash came on so quickly it left the science community scrambling for answers.”
The loss of native grassland is surely a major piece of the problem. Plus, pesticide use across the Midwest has created a more toxic landscape for all butterflies in the region. Changing weather patterns may be driving this species’ decline, too.
Michigan is at the frontline of the effort to save this butterfly. Michigan’s congressional delegation can play a big role, as well.
Two federal bills can help the Poweshiek skipperling
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would provide funding to the states to protect wildlife that are starting to slip, as well as other species that are on the cusp. Michigan’s state wildlife action plan is a blueprint for helping species in the state, and the Poweshiek skipperling butterfly is on the plan.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (Mich.) is the main driver of the bill in the House. It’s getting late in this Congress, and it’s an election year (which tends to distract), but why wait? We urge Congress to pass this important wildlife bill.
Additionally, the U.S. Farm Bill, a behemoth of a policy, is due to be renewed. It pumps much-needed conservation money into rural landscapes — the very landscapes needed to save this butterfly. When renewing the bill, Congress needs to pay close attention to the conservation programs that need more cash. For instance, a crop rotation program would help farms cut back on pesticides, and prairie strips can provide small islands of habitat for butterflies and other wildlife. Both programs need more money to induce more farmers to participate.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and is a key supporter of conservation programs in the Farm Bill. For the little Poweshiek skipperling butterfly and other species faring poorly, she’s in a position to ensure that conservation programs in the Farm Bill are sufficiently funded. Keep at it, Senator.
We’re rooting for this little flyer, but rooting isn’t enough. By passing the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and renewing the Farm Bill with robust funding for conservation programs, Congress can help.
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