Bringing butterflies back from the brink of extinction

In a Michigan prairie, a diminutive Poweshiek skipperling butterfly flutters on a summer day, appearing like any other butterfly to the untrained eye. However, to researchers at Michigan State University and their conservation partners, this moment signifies something extraordinary. Once considered one of the world's rarest butterflies, the Poweshiek skipperling seemed poised for extinction.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of various organizations, including Michigan State University, John Ball Zoo, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this species has been rescued from the brink of extinction. David Pavlik, a research assistant at MSU's W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, emphasizes the team's success in saving the butterfly, releasing more than 1,300 in 2025.

The initial goal of the recovery effort was not to establish new populations but to prevent the Poweshiek skipperling from vanishing from the remaining habitats in Michigan. As the recovery progressed, the focus shifted to strengthening the existing populations. Researchers have, at times, cared for more Poweshiek skipperlings in captivity than existed in the wild across the entire globe.

The Poweshiek skipperling, once widespread across the Midwest, faced a rapid decline in the early 2000s, with only nine confirmed sightings in the United States by 2022. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including habitat loss, wetland destruction, and the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which harm beneficial insects and reduce biodiversity. Michigan's geography, with its Great Lakes and rare prairie fen wetlands, has made it a crucial stronghold for some of North America's most endangered butterflies.

The restoration of prairie habitat, primarily by The Nature Conservancy and other land managers, has played a pivotal role in the Poweshiek skipperling's survival. These restored habitats, found predominantly in southern Michigan, provide a vital breeding ground for the butterfly. The research conducted at Michigan State University and John Ball Zoo extends beyond the Poweshiek skipperling, with efforts now underway to reintroduce the Mitchell's satyr and the Karner blue butterflies to restore populations across Michigan.