Several new moth records have come in. On July 19 Olivia DaRugna found a Clearwing Sphinx (Hemaris sp) at Ash Hollow State Historical Park. Two Hemaris species are found in the state, widespread H. diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing) and much rarer H. thysbe (Hummingbird Clearwing). After some deliberation it was decided that Olivia’s specimen was H.Continue reading “New Moth Records”
Author Archives: hpahaska
Eastern Tailed Blues from western NE
I was browsing the website the other day when I noticed there were three counties in western Nebraska where Eastern Tailed Blues had not yet been recorded. So I contacted Colin Croft who resides in the area to see if he could remedy this situation. As usual Colin came through, searching his database to findContinue reading “Eastern Tailed Blues from western NE”
Niobrara Valley Preserve 35th annual butterfly count
On July 10th ten individuals gathered at the Niobrara Valley Preserve to conduct the 35th consecutive annual butterfly count. Participants included Neil Dankert, Jonathan and Bennett Nikkila, Jen Corman (NE G&P), and Jojo Morelli, Krystal Church, Sanketh Menon, Kevin Meyer, Paul Stofferahn and Chris Helzer, all of the Nature Conservancy. This year’s count was heldContinue reading “Niobrara Valley Preserve 35th annual butterfly count”
Blaine County Records
Last Sunday (July 9) myself, Jonathan and Bennett Nikkila drove to the Niobrara Valley Preserve to do the annual butterfly count the next day. On the way we stopped at the North Loup River just north of Brewster in Blaine County to stretch our legs and check out some wet highway ditches that have beenContinue reading “Blaine County Records”
Citizen Science Opportunity
I recently received this via email. It is an opportunity to contribute to a USGS research project. Note that no Lepidoptera are to be killed. They are only interested in larger (2″ wingspan) already deceased butterflies and moths. I asked about roadkill (roadside and car grill) and they said those were ok to send in.Continue reading “Citizen Science Opportunity”
Three More County Records
I’m still kind of in catch-up mode after spending much of the spring/early summer finishing up the moth addition to our website. Back in April Lori Tomes found a Gray Comma (Polygonia progne) in Saunders County where it had not previously been found. Thanks and congratulations Lori Several new county records for Zebra Swallowtails (EurytidesContinue reading “Three More County Records”
White-M Hairstreak Found
Yesterday afternoon Steve Spomer found a male White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) in his yard in Lincoln. This is the third record of this butterfly for the state, the other two coming from Fontenelle Forest. Larvae of this species feed on oaks. Steve said there are a few ornamental oaks nearby, but he suspects the butterflyContinue reading “White-M Hairstreak Found”
Moths, Moths and More Moths
A grant from Nebraska Game and Parks Watchable Wildlife program has enabled us to add several major moth groups to our website. With the assistance of Steve Spomer from UNL we (Jonathan Nikkila and myself) have been able to gather up records and specimens for Silkworm Moths, Sphinx (aka Hawk or Hummingbird) Moths and UnderwingContinue reading “Moths, Moths and More Moths”
The curious case of Anisota stigma (or is it manitobensis?)
One of the more rewarding aspects of photographing/collecting Lepidoptera is the occasional discovery of a species new to an area (and/or well outside it’s known range). Such is the case with Spiny Oakworm Moth (Anisota stigma). Or is it the Manitoba Oakworm Moth (A. manitobensis)? Both of them belong to the Lepidopteran Family Saturnidae (discussedContinue reading “The curious case of Anisota stigma (or is it manitobensis?)”
Nebraska Saturniidae
This is one of the moth groups we will be adding to our website later this spring. Moths in the Lepidopteran Family Saturniidae are commonly called silkworm moths although the moth used by the Chinese to make silk is actually a member of a closely related family (Bombycidae). Nonetheless many Saturniid Moths spin cases ofContinue reading “Nebraska Saturniidae”