Nebraska Lepidoptera Blog
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”
Alfalfa Rules/Six New County Records
This past weekend Jennifer, I and the dog made a road trip to fill in a few gaps in the maps while the weather was still nice. We traveled to the Norfolk area with the number one goal of finding a Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) in Boone County, the lone remaining county where it hadContinue reading “Alfalfa Rules/Six New County Records”
Spurge Hawkmoths
Recently (Aug 29) Diane Miller noticed a large number (20+) of big colorful caterpillars on an ornamental spurge in Platte County. After doing some research we decided they were Spurge Hawkmoths (Celerio euphorbiae), European cousins of our abundant (Celerio lineata). Steve Spomer verified our determination. According to Steve (who keeps Sphnix Moth distribution maps forContinue reading “Spurge Hawkmoths”
Least Skipper found in Banner County
While Colin Croft was exploring the far reaches of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area on August 22 he came across a Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) in a moist canyon. After consulting his GPS he determined he had left Scotts Bluff County and was in 150′ into Banner County where the Least Skipper had not yetContinue reading “Least Skipper found in Banner County”
Painted Crescents by the Dozens!
This past Saturday (August 14) Jon Nikkila and I drove the back roads of the loess hills south of North Platte in search of Baird’s Swallowtails. We found none which, unless there is a late discovery makes this the second consecutive year without a Baird’s sighting. During our travels we decided to check out WapitiContinue reading “Painted Crescents by the Dozens!”
Two More County Records
Monday, after a weekend visit to Keller State Recreation Area northeast of Ainsworth, Pat and Diane Miller, Jen and I road tripped to Boyd County to check out the local butterfly fauna. We made our way to Hull Lake SWMA, near a highway but still off the beaten path. Butterflies were not abundant but weContinue reading “Two More County Records”
Roadside Skipper found in Scotts Bluff County
August 10 Colin Croft took a picture of a couple of Roadside Skippers (Amblyscirtes vialis) in a ravine in the Wildcat Hills in Scotts Bluff County where they had not previously been reported. Congratulations and a thank you to Colin. This butterfly is still unreported from roughly one third of Nebraska counties. While most commonContinue reading “Roadside Skipper found in Scotts Bluff County”
New to the state – Ocola Skipper
This past week Steve Spomer sent me some pictures of a skipper one of his up and coming young protégés, Jonathan Xing caught in his yard in Lincoln late last summer. When Jonathan had described it to Steve over the phone Steve had thought it was probably a Eufala Skipper. But after finally seeing itContinue reading “New to the state – Ocola Skipper”
Monarch Tagging Time
Where did the summer go? Suddenly it’s August and time to consider doing some citizen science and tag migrating Monarchs. Monarchwatch.org (a University of Kansas outreach program) is the sponsoring organization. Check out their website for full details, but briefly – you order the kit containing labels and instructions on the tagging procedure. You tagContinue reading “Monarch Tagging Time”
Distribution Map Updates – Part 2
Here are the remaining seven maps for butterflies with six or fewer counties needed to complete their “clean sweep” of all 93 counties. If you happen to be traveling through or have relatives in any of these counties there is an opportunity to get your/their name in the record book (see Garfield County post fromContinue reading “Distribution Map Updates – Part 2”
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Alfalfa Butterfly Box Elder WMA Brown County Buffalo County Cercyonis pegala Colias eurytheme Cupido comyntas Dainty Sulphur Danaus plexippus Eastern-tailed Blue Eastern Comma Epargyreus clarus Garden County Giant Swallowtail Gray Hairstreak Great Spangled Fritillary Jonathan Nikkila Keya Paha County Lincoln County Miller Monarch Nathalis iole Niobrara Valley Preserve Orange Sulphur Painted Lady Papilio cresphontes Papilio glaucus Polites peckius Polites themistocles Polygonia comma Polygonia interrogationis Question Mark Red Admiral Regal Fritillary Sarpy County Scotts Bluff County Silver Spotted Skipper Sioux County Speyeria cybele Speyeria idalia Strymon melinus Tawny-edged Skipper Tiger Swallowtail Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui
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