In 2024 Lepidoptera enthusiasts found six previously unreported species in the state. Moth savant Mark Brogie added three new species from his residence in Creighton (Knox County) – a Four-dotted Agonopterix, Aethes baloghi and a Milky Plume Moth. sageraine (iNaturalist) reported a White-spotted Cankerworm Moth in Lincoln (Lancaster County). Colin Croft attracted a Lethal Pyrausta to lights in the Wildcat Hills (Scotts Bluff County) on July 28. On May 9 Elizabeth Hilkemann photographed Cydia lacustrina in southern Lancaster County.
One Saturnid county record was submitted – a Polyphemus Moth from Colfax County by Steve Spomer. Snowberry Clearwings were newly recorded from Stanton and Cherry Counties (Jason Thiele and Jessica McGinley respectively). A couple of uncommon southern strays found their way into south central Nebraska. A Banded Sphinx was found in Buffalo County by Shelly Rodehorst (third Nebraska record) and a Gaudy Sphinx was found in Dawson County (second Nebraska record) by the Witter family (Emily, Azalea and Ezekiel). Staying in south central Nebraska, Christian Jacobs found a Nessus Sphinx in Kearney (Buffalo County). Closing out the species for which we track county records, Bennett and Jonathan Nikkila attracted an Abbreviated Underwing to their UV light at the Niobrara Valley Preserve (Brown County) this past July while we were there to conduct our annual butterfly count.
Many thanks to 2024’s contributors. I’ve added 2024’s six new moth species to our spreadsheet, bringing Nebraska’s species total for the state to 1,467 (by my calculation). This spreadsheet is available to view/download under the moth tab on our website. Please let us know if you have any information on unlisted species or county records at nebraskabutterflies@gmail.com.