About Atrytonopsis quinteri
The crystal skipper, scientifically named Atrytonopsis quinteri, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found only along a 50 km (30-mile) stretch of barrier islands in North Carolina, USA. This species was first discovered in 1978, and the research paper that formally described it as a full species was published in 2015. The crystal skipper is endemic to two natural barrier islands in North Carolina: Bogue Banks and Bear Island. Bogue Banks is approximately 25 miles long, while Bear Island is around 3.5 miles long. The species can also be found on several human-made dredge spoil islands located near these two natural islands. Bear Island is part of Hammocks Beach State Park, is completely undeveloped, and hosts the largest population of crystal skippers. The second largest population lives at Fort Macon State Park, which sits on the eastern end of Bogue Banks. All remaining crystal skipper populations are smaller and scattered between these two state parks. Crystal skippers live in primary and secondary sand dunes where their host plant, seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale), grows. While the largest, densest populations of the butterfly are usually found on undisturbed sand dunes, the species can also survive in small patches of sand dune habitat, including undeveloped lots in urban areas. It also occurs on the human-made dredge spoil islands that have been naturally colonized by seaside little bluestem. The crystal skipper produces two broods per year. The first brood of adults emerges from the chrysalis stage between mid-April and mid-May. Adults of this brood mate, after which females lay eggs. The eggs hatch into caterpillars that feed and grow before entering the pupation stage to form a chrysalis. After completing metamorphosis, the second brood of adults emerges between mid-July and mid-August. Caterpillars from the second brood grow through fall, then overwinter. They finish their metamorphosis the following spring, and the annual life cycle repeats. This means the adult individuals active in spring of the second year are the grandchildren of the brood that emerged the previous spring. The crystal skipper lays its eggs directly on seaside little bluestem, and caterpillars feed exclusively on this grass species.
