Per Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife: "The mardon skipper population size is low and declining. This skipper is currently found at only four, small, geographically disjunct areas in Washington, Oregon, and California. It is one of five butterflies in the Skipper Family recognized as 'Species of Greatest Conservation Need' throughout their ranges due to the small number of isolated populations, specialized and restricted habitat, and known threats to their habitat. In south Puget Sound grasslands, mardon skippers use open, grass dominated habitat with abundant Roemer’s Fescue interspersed with early blue violet and select early blue violet and common vetch as nectar sources." Photo is of skipper nectaring on lavender blossoms on sunny, dry slope within a 1/4-acre lot of a rural private home in south Sound prairie region.