The other day I got an email from Colin Croft who resides in the Scotts Bluff area and is an avid observer of the natural world (including Lepidoptera). Colin had connected with Chuck Harp (curator of the insect collection at Colorado State University in Fort Collins) and sent him some moths to identify. Chuck identified Colin’s specimens and posted the identifications on Ecdysis, an online arthropod search engine. So, I searched Scotts Bluff County and scrolled through the results. Amazingly Colin had found eight species previously unreported from Nebraska. All were western in distribution with Colin’s records being the easternmost in North America. They are as follows:

Lithophane itata Larvae feed on junipers. Adults emerge in the fall, overwinter, and breed in the spring.

Lithophane ponderosa Larvae of this species feed on Ponderosa Pine. The adults mottled appearance resembles pine bark providing them some protection from predators when resting on tree trunks. Adults emerge in the fall, overwinter and mate the following spring to begin the next generation.

Xylena brucei Bruce’s Swordgrass Moth – Larvae feed primarily on Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). Adults emerge in the fall, overwinter and re-emerge in the spring.

Cucullia albida is a rarely reported moth with Scotts Bluff being the southeastern most North American record. Little is known of its life cycle.

Phigalia plumogeraria Larvae are generalists, feeding on apples, plums, willows and Antelope Bitterbrush. Females are flightless, emitting pheromones to attract males who have plumose (feathery) antennae they use to follow the pheromone to its source. Unfortunately the antennae of Colin’s specimen are hidden from view under its wings. After completing the larval stages the larvae drop to the ground and pupate in the soil where they overwinter. Adults emerge in the spring to start the cycle again.

Egira crucialis Larvae feed on a wide variety of woody plants including Antelope Bitterbrush. Most records are from the Pacific Coast states with Colin’s Scotts Bluff County find being North America’s easternmost. Adults can be found in early spring.

Egira simplex Larva feed on various hardwoods and conifers. This moth flies in early spring and is uncommon to rare east of the Pacific Coast states.

Drasteria inepta Information on the early stages is lacking. Adults are bivoltine, flying in early and late summer.

One characteristic all these moths share is that they are all spring fliers. Most moths “newly reported” for Nebraska tend to be obscure “micro-moths” but all of these are larger but had escaped notice due to their early flight period. There are still discoveries to be made in our great state so start checking your lights as the temperatures warm.

Several days of snow and sub-zero temperatures (not to mention “brisk” breezes) were bringing on a case of the winter blahs. Then I open my email and there’s a Nebraska Statewide Arboretum newsletter. Pictures of green things – instant cheer! Then it gets better. There is a Zoom presentation March 13 on the importance of Oaks, Willows and Prunus (plums and cherries) in supporting native insects. Must see “TV”. Registration is required so use the link above and search for “Winter Talks”. The Statewide Arboretum also hosts “The Spring Affair” (see the newsletter) and several other plant sales at their Lincoln greenhouses throughout the year. Consider becoming a member.

On the topic of plants and insects, if you haven’t read it, you should check out the NebGuide on “Butterfly Gardening”. It’s a very helpful tool to use when landscaping your property to maximize the use of plants beneficial to butterflies throughout their life cycle.

When choosing plants beneficial to other critters we share our world with it’s important to include plants native to our area. They will require less maintenance (great for you) and have a unique relationship beneficial to both plant and animal built up over millennia. In recent decades horticulturists have bred many landscape plants for certain features to make them more attractive. Sometimes, while developing these “eye candy” cultivars, other traits that made them beneficial to our wild friends are lost or diminished. So, if possible, plan to include some “wild” material into your landscape.

Unfortunately, there is often a sparse selection of many “natives” available at commercial nurseries. Also, the same plant originating from a different region may react quite differently to your local conditions. So, it is also important to get locally sourced plants as often as possible. Luckily for us there are several great local sources for native plants you might want to check out. The first is Midwest Natives Nursey located in Lincoln. It’s 2025 spring plant list is out. It is a brick and mortar business (no mail order) but you can preorder for pickup at the greenhouse. Sign up for the mailing list for opening dates, hours, etc.

Another great local plant source is Prairie Legacy based in southeast Nebraska. This is an online plant store (no brick and mortar location) that offers a great selection of native live plants (grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs) or seeds (individual species or premixed) delivered to your door. Bulk seed mixes for larger projects are available.

Stock Seed Farm based in Murdock sells a wide variety of native grass and flower seeds. Flower seeds are available in packets, ounces or pounds. Grass seeds are sold by the pound. An assortment of pre-mixed seed selections is also offered. This is another great source for larger projects.

After this past week spring might seem a long way off. But hopefully it’s closer than the recent cold snap would lead us to believe. If you’ve decided to add plants to your property this spring it’s time to make a plan. Please consider our insect friends and include some locally sourced native plants. And don’t forget to sign up for the Oaks, Willows and Prunus presentation.