“Nebraska Lepidoptera” Blog

New Flower Moth for Nebraska

A new flower moth has been found in Nebraska. In August Brad Bolduan was visiting Valentine National Wildlife Refuge when he photographed several moths visiting sunflowers. After circulating his photos it was a consensus of several experts that the moths he found were Schinia avemensis. This moth is rarely found in the United States (two…

by hpahaska December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

One More New Moth

Back on October 17th Eli Weber was visiting his grandparents in Cuming County when he found an usual moth resting on their garage. After doing some research. he identified it as a Black-dotted Ruddy Moth. This id was verified by Mark Brogie, Nebraska’s resident moth expert. This is a new species for the state, the…

by hpahaska November 4, 2025November 4, 2025

It’s Not Over Yet!!

The unseasonably warm late season weather has resulted in an unusual number of sightings of southern species basking in the warmth of Nebraska’s tropical weather. Several were county records, the first being a Queen from Ponca State Park (Dixon Co.) photographed on September 20 by Brett Anderson. Then on October 13 Colleen Childers found a…

by hpahaska October 17, 2025October 17, 2025

More Moths New to Nebraska

Three more moths have been added to Nebraska’s moth list. On September 12 Eli Weber attracted a Thelma’s Agonopterix to lights at Elmwood Park in Omaha. This moth has been found in the eastern United States with central Iowa being the previous westernmost record. It’s larval hostplants are unknown. Then on September 22 Eli was…

by hpahaska October 13, 2025October 13, 2025

4-H Records from the State Fair

Steve Spomer (who judges insect collections at the state fair) forwarded me the following new records from the fair held earlier this month. Unfortunately, most of these records come to me with incomplete data, be it dates or specific localities. So, while almost certainly valid, they are recorded on our maps with a lighter shade…

by hpahaska September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Another White M Hairstreak

Back in August (13th) Eli Weber was camping at Indian Cave State Park in Richardson County when a White M Hairstreak came to visit him, perching on his tent. This is the fifth record and third locality for this butterfly in the state, the other two being in Bellevue and Lincoln. Three records are from…

by hpahaska September 19, 2025September 19, 2025

Six Moths New to Nebraska

On July 14-16 Eli Weber and Tony Palmer set up lights at Neale Woods (which straddles Douglas and Washington Counties) to see what insects might be afoot. Their efforts resulted in finding six moths previously unreported from the state. They found a Hollow-spotted Plagodis whose larvae feed on various hardwoods. This is the westernmost US…

by hpahaska August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

Achemon Sphinx from Nance County

Back in July (10th) Dianne Miller found an Achemon Sphinx in Genoa. Larva of this attractive moth feed on Grapevine (Vitis) which grows wild statewide. The moth is also found statewide but is recorded from only a third of the counties. So, citizen science opportunities abound. Great job Dianne!

by hpahaska August 21, 2025August 21, 2025

Two Moths New to Scotts Bluff County

Master Naturalist Colin Croft regularly sets up lights and bait at night in the Wildcat Hills to see what insects he might attract. On July 21 a Joined Underwing was attracted to his bait. Larvae of this species feed on cottonwoods and willows and while it is widespread across the state its habitat becomes scarcer…

by hpahaska August 14, 2025August 14, 2025

2025 Niobrara Valley Preserve Butterfly Count

On June 30 six intrepid observers (Chris Helzer, Noelle Schuman, Kojo Baidoo, Eric Strehlow, Jen Corman and Neil Dankert) set out on the 38th annual Niobrara Valley Preserve Butterfly Count. The weather started out a little on the cool side (temps in the low 70s) when the count began at 9:45 am but was ideal…

by hpahaska July 18, 2025July 18, 2025

Mothapaloosa

This year’s Niobrara Valley Preserve Butterfly Count was held June 30. Chris Helzer, Eric Strehlow, Mark Brogie, his wife Ellen and myself showed up a day early to check out the local nightlife. Mark and Eric set up their sheets and mercury vapor lights and Eric and I drove around and set up about 20…

by hpahaska July 10, 2025July 10, 2025

Hobomok Skipper in Custer County

Back on in mid-June (13th) Steve Spomer stopped by Victoria Springs SRA where he found three Hobomok Skippers (previously unreported in Custer County). While not uber-rare they are uncommon in central Nebraska. Good find Steve!! With the help of Mark Brogie I’ve been updating our NE Moth spreadsheet. Watch for posts in the near future…

by hpahaska July 6, 2025July 6, 2025

New Moth For State

Congrats to Elizabeth Hilkemann, a grade school insect enthusiast, who photographed a Yellow-lined Owlet Moth in southern Lancaster County. This is the first report of this species in the state. Literature lists Willows (Salix sp.) as a likely larval host plant. Mom Laura reports willows to be common in the area. Willows are one of…

by hpahaska June 3, 2025June 3, 2025

Monarchs on 60 Minutes

Just a quick heads up – Monarch butterflies will be featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes this coming Sunday (Easter Sunday. Here is the CBS teaser. Be set to record it if you can’t watch live.

by hpahaska April 17, 2025April 17, 2025

More New Moths (Again)

James Adams contacted me regarding some additional moths they had found on their road trip through Nebraska last summer (see Feb 6 post). As a result of his previous communication five new moth species were added to Nebraska’s known moth list. In his latest communication five more species are added to our state list. All…

by hpahaska April 14, 2025April 14, 2025