Range-wide relative abundance of the Appalachian grizzled skipper ( Pyrgus centaureae wyandot ) in the Eastern United States

Nimish B. Vyas; Jennifer Selfridge; David Cuthrell; Robert Somes; Erin White; Judith Ratcliffe; J. Merrill Lynch; Laurie Hamon; Eileen Wyza; Betsy Leppo; Pete Woods; Anthony Tur; Donovan Drummey; Kathryn Nolan; Ellison Orcutt; Andrew Rapp; Leah Card; Jakob Goldner; Susan Olcott

doi:10.3133/ofr20261017

USGS · ofr20261017

Range-wide relative abundance of the Appalachian grizzled skipper ( Pyrgus centaureae wyandot ) in the Eastern United States

Nimish B. Vyas·Jennifer Selfridge·David Cuthrell·Robert Somes·Erin White·Judith Ratcliffe·J. Merrill Lynch·Laurie Hamon·Eileen Wyza·Betsy Leppo·Pete Woods·Anthony Tur·Donovan Drummey·Kathryn Nolan·Ellison Orcutt·Andrew Rapp·Leah Card·Jakob Goldner·Susan Olcott

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Abstract

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the Pyrgus centaureae wyandot (Appalachian Grizzled Skipper [AGS]) to be at-risk, based on its declining populations and the lack of information on its status. The objective of this study was to complete range-wide surveys to locate extant AGS colonies and to quantify the number of AGS observed at each location. From 2021–24, 284 surveys were done in 25 unique (that is, distinct) counties in 8 States in the Eastern United States — Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. We found AGS in only two counties: Alleghany County, Virginia, and Greenbrier County, West Virginia. AGS were observed 180 times in these two counties. Our results can inform U.S. Fish and Wildlife decisions about where and how future AGS conservation efforts can be implemented.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 33.865515° to 48.182916° latitude; -90.344338° to -71.869558° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Nimish B. Vyas, Jennifer Selfridge, David Cuthrell, Robert Somes, Erin White, Judith Ratcliffe, J. Merrill Lynch, Laurie Hamon, Eileen Wyza, Betsy Leppo, Pete Woods, Anthony Tur, Donovan Drummey, Kathryn Nolan, Ellison Orcutt, Andrew Rapp, Leah Card, Jakob Goldner, Susan Olcott. 2026-05-28. Range-wide relative abundance of the Appalachian grizzled skipper ( Pyrgus centaureae wyandot ) in the Eastern United States. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20261017

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