Habitat characterization of five rare insects in Michigan (Lepidoptera : Hesperiidae, Riodinidae, Satyridae : Homoptera : Cercopidae)

Over 80 species of insects are listed as endangered, threatened, or special concern under Michigan's endangered species act. For the majority of these species, detailed habitat information is scant or difficult to interpret. We describe the habitat of five insect species that are considered rare in Michigan: Lepyronia angulifera (Cercopidae), Prosapia ignipectus (Cercopida e), Oarisma poweshiek (Hesperiidae), Cabephelis mutica (Riodinidae), and Ne onympha mitchellii mitchellii (Satyridae). Populations of each species were only found within a fraction of the plant communities deemed suitable base d upon previous literature. Furthermore, individuals of each species were o bserved to be closely affiliated with just a few vegetation associations wi thin larger plant communities. Restriction of these species to particular m icrohabitats was determined to be, in part, due to ecological or behavioral specialization of each insect species. We believe that the most holistic m anagement and conservation practices for these rare insects in Michigan sho uld focus on protecting the integrity of both the plant community and the m icrohabitat upon which these species depend.