On pages 185-193 of the 2024 winter edition of News of the Lepidopterists’ Society (vol 66 #4) James Adams and Brian Scholtens documented the first leg of their Lepidoptera field trip through Nebraska, the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska (again) and Kansas this past summer. The first four pages (185-188) document in text and photos their first two nights in Nebraska (at Halsey and Chadron) where they set up lights to attract moths. In those two nights they found five moth species not previously reported from the state as well as others found infrequently. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a way to link directly to that issue but if you take a few minutes to navigate through the process you won’t be disappointed. It’s a really interesting insight into a trip by some accomplished Lepidopterists on a journey of discovery. First search News of the Lepidopterists’s Society – Yale University. Then use the Browse search, select 2020s and then 2024. Then select volume 66 #4. It’s a large pdf and may take a minute to open but worth the wait.
The five new (to Nebraska) species they found were: Pyrausta volupalis, whose larvae feed on plants in the Mint family, Hydraecia perobliqua (larva feed on figworts), Scotogramma submarina (a high plains resident – this Thomas County record is the easternmost in North America. Larval hostplant(s) unreported), Hadena circumvadis (another easternmost record, next nearest are in Montana and Arizona. Larval hostplant(s) unreported) and Ulolonche disticha (another western species found as far east as Kansas, Texas and now Nebraska. Larval hostplant(s) unreported.)
So if you think moths are boring I’d encourage you to check this out. The authors plan to publish two more installments of their Excellent Adventure with the last featuring a stop in southwest Nebraska. I can’t wait!!