Nebraska Lepidoptera Blog
Some Good Reading
Some good reading came out recently that might merit a few minutes of your time. The first appeared in the July 31 (Sunday) Omaha World Herald and deals with gardening for pollinators and Monarch butterflies in particular as a conservation group recently listed them as endangered. https://omaha.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/in-the-garden-fight-isnt-over-to-help-monarchs-and-heres-how-to-do-it/article_dcc3f590-0ddc-11ed-b666-3b7bee54ef2a.html The August/September issue of Nebraskaland magazine has aContinue reading “Some Good Reading”
Marine Blue found in Scotts Bluff County
On July 19 Colin Croft was exploring Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area in southern Scotts Bluff County when he came across a Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) which hadn’t previously been found in Scotts Bluff County. Marine Blues stray to our area from their southern home range and breed continuously (feeding on various legumes) once arrivingContinue reading “Marine Blue found in Scotts Bluff County”
Another California Tortoiseshell
Once three California Tortoiseshells were found in Sioux County on July 11 it seemed likely more sightings would follow. This has proved out as another has been sighted by Marie Smith at her residence in Gering (Scotts Bluff Co.). She reports that one has been in her yard for three days. What a treat! ColinContinue reading “Another California Tortoiseshell”
Invasion of the California Tortoiseshells
How to follow up with the first Mulberry Wing Skipper photographed in Nebraska? Colin Croft was kind enough to share his experience from July 11. With a relatively milder day forecast for Monday July 11th, I headed off north into SiouxCounty from Scottsbluff/Gering to check up on my little quarter section of pasture about15 milesContinue reading “Invasion of the California Tortoiseshells”
Nebraska’s Rarest Butterfly – Mulberry Wing Skipper Photographed
Back in 2001 I was prowling Boone County’s back roads looking for county records. I had already had some success in Nance County along the Loup River south of Fullerton but Boone County was proving to be more difficult. Then I happened upon a marsh on Beaver Valley Road west of Petersburg. It was aContinue reading “Nebraska’s Rarest Butterfly – Mulberry Wing Skipper Photographed”
Niobrara Valley Preserve 2022 Butterfly Count
On July 6 seven intrepid observers set out on the Niobrara Valley Preserve’s 34th annual butterfly count. Conditions were incredibly dry (perhaps accounting for the lower overall numbers observed) but we were able to record 28 species and 161 individual butterflies. These totals fell roughly in line with averages for the last 10 years (26.8Continue reading “Niobrara Valley Preserve 2022 Butterfly Count”
Western Nebraska: Good for family & butterflies
By Jonathan Nikkila Putting to use all the tips, tricks and ID help Neil Dankert has given me over the years, I spent a day during our family vacation to the Pine Ridge last week to hunt for Western Nebraska butterfly species. My family was staying at Ft. Robinson State Park, a great place forContinue reading “Western Nebraska: Good for family & butterflies”
Field Crescent found in Scotts Bluff County
Back on June 15 Colin Croft sent me a link to some pictures he had taken earlier that day, wondering if I might know what it was. Knowing my limitations I passed it along to Steve Spomer who shared it with Mike Fisher and James Scott. They were in agreement that Colin had found aContinue reading “Field Crescent found in Scotts Bluff County”
Spurge Hawkmoth and Website Update
This is a followup to my Sept 2 post from last year. Diane Miller found a bunch of caterpillars at her mother and brothers residences in Platte and Nance counties. She was kind enough to give me a couple. They promptly pupated and I left them in a Folgers coffee container on my workbench inContinue reading “Spurge Hawkmoth and Website Update”
Something you don’t see every year – a Zephyr Anglewing
Although virtually the entire state is in some form of drought warmer weather is finally here, albeit sporadically. There are multiple reports of Henry’s Elfins from eastern Nebraska but so far the find of this young season was the discovery of a Zephyr Anglewing by Colin Croft who got a photograph of one at theContinue reading “Something you don’t see every year – a Zephyr Anglewing”
Season Summary
Well 2021 ended up being a pretty good year for increasing our knowledge of the butterfly and moth fauna of Nebraska. 30 butterfly county records were found, with one of them being a state record (see the list below). In addition Mark Brogie and Barb and Loren Padelford recorded 31 moths never before found inContinue reading “Season Summary”
Firey Skippers and Marine Blues – One Last Time?
OK, you’re probably getting tired of hearing about them but that is about all that is flying that is even slightly interesting. Saturday I accompanied Jen for a day on the Junk Jaunt. Our first stop was at a multi vendor location along NE Highway 2 in Ansley. One of the vendors was selling plantsContinue reading “Firey Skippers and Marine Blues – One Last Time?”
Another Dainty Sulfur Record
Master Naturalist Colin Croft contacted me to report another county record for the Dainty Sulfur (Nathalis iole), this one from Scotts Bluff County where he has sighted/photographed it on numerous occasions. Many thanks Colin!! That leaves eight counties without iole records. We likely won’t get them knocked out this year but be on the lookoutContinue reading “Another Dainty Sulfur Record”
Firey Skipper and Marine Blue Alert
This past weekend Jon Nikkila and Jen and I both found Firey Skippers (Hylephila phyleus) in previously unrecorded counties, Jon in Valley County and Jen and I in Polk County. In addition both Jon and I have seen Marine Blues (Leptotes marina) in our yards here in Buffalo County. Last weekend I saw one inContinue reading “Firey Skipper and Marine Blue Alert”
Godspeed AEJZ927 et al
Thursday afternoon (9/16) we went looking for Monarch butterflies to tag during their migration to Mexico. Waiting for them to find our asters in the yard had not proven to be a winning strategy so we went to a patch of alfalfa where they had been numerous in the past. The weather was warm enoughContinue reading “Godspeed AEJZ927 et al”
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