In 2024 Lepidoptera enthusiasts found six previously unreported species in the state. Moth savant Mark Brogie added three new species from his residence in Creighton (Knox County) – a Four-dotted Agonopterix, Aethes baloghi and a Milky Plume Moth. sageraine (iNaturalist) reported a White-spotted Cankerworm Moth in Lincoln (Lancaster County). Colin Croft attracted a Lethal PyraustaContinue reading “2024 Moth Finds”
Tag Archives: Colin Croft
Two “new” Funereal Duskywing Records
I was passing a cold winter day skimming through iNaturalist records when I came across a couple of new Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) records for the state. The first came from Colin Croft from the Wildcat Hills area (Scotts Bluff Co.) on May 22, 2020. The second was found at Sutherland Reservoir (Lincoln Co.) onContinue reading “Two “new” Funereal Duskywing Records”
Two New Moths for the State
Back on August 11 Colin Croft found Glena nigricaria (sorry, no common name) in the Wildcat Hills south of Scotts Bluff/Gehring. This moth is western in distribution with Colin’s Nebraska record the easternmost in the United States The larvae feed on pines and are cryptically colored to blend in with pine needles (click on theContinue reading “Two New Moths for the State”
More New Moths for the State
Two more moths have been added to our state’s ever growing moth list. The two latest additions come from opposite ends of the state, one from Lincoln and the other from the Scotts Bluff area. On August 11 Colin Croft found a neat Geometer Moth (Glena nigricaria) in the Wildcat Hills south of Scotts Bluff.Continue reading “More New Moths for the State”
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”
Just when you thought it was over …
A couple more October county records to report: On October 16 Colin Croft photographed a Crescent butterfly in the Wildcat Hills of southern Scotts Bluff County. We forwarded the photograph to Steve Spomer at UNL who shared it with other experts and identified it as a Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta). Scotts Bluff County is onlyContinue reading “Just when you thought it was over …”
More Marine Blues
While most other butterflies have passed their peak numbers, the same cannot be said for Marine Blues. This past weekend five observers reported Marine Blues from six counties where they had not been previously reported. Colin Croft found one in Banner County in the far southern reaches of Wildcat Hills SRA. Jonathan Nikkila found themContinue reading “More Marine Blues”
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”