Southern Lepidopterists' Society (ISSN 2167-0285)
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Southern Lepidopterists' NEWS EST. 1978 Official Newsletter of the Southern Lepidopterists' Society (ISSN 2167-0285) Vol. 37 NO.3 September 30, 2015 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTHERN LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING THE LEPIDOPTERA FAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE UNITED STATES (WEBSITE: www.southernlepsoc.or~:O J. BARRY LOMBARDINI: EDITOR BUTTERFLIES PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY BY MIKE RICKARD There have been some 175 species recorded from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through the first 7 months ofthis year, a result of the excessive late spring rains. I've been fortunate in photographing 151 of those, including 3 Lifers. Fig. 1. Mimoilles phaon, 5/23/15, National Fig. 2. Papilio anchisialles, 6/11/15, National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX. Lifer for me, 3rd Butterfly Center, Mission, TX. This species has US sighting. been seen regularly March-July, ranging north to Del Rio, San Antonio, and the Austin area. SOUTHERN LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS Fig. 3. Dynamine dyonis, 3/19/15, Santa Ana NWR, Fig. 4. Dynamine postverta, 5/08/15, Mission, TX. Alamo, TX. Several refuge sightings this year. This A yard bug! female was earlier ovipositing on Tragia sp. II Fig. 5. Epargyreus exadeus, 6/29/15, Fig. 6. Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri, 6/11/15, National Butterfly Center, Mission, TX. Bentsen State Park, Mission, TX. This was a Very few US records, this was one of 2 Lifer for me. Over a period of weeks 1-3 recorded in Mission this year. individuals could be found resting during the day in restroom alcoves at Bentsen, and 1 was found in the men's room at Santa Ana NWR. Fig. 7. Antigonus erosus, 5/17/15, National Fig. 8. Xenophanes tryxus, 6/01/15, Bentsen Butterfly Center, Mission, TX. Lifer for me, State Park, Mission, TX. This species was once 3rd US record, a 4th was seen in the area a a regular, circa 1960's-1990's, but quite scarce few days later. the past decade. This year they were briefly seen in Cameron and Hidalgo Co. SOUTHERN LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS VOLUME 37 N0.3 (2015), PG. 104 The Southern Lepidopterists' INDEX Society Page 1. Butterflies Photographed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley OFFICERS by Mike Richard .......................................................................... 102 2. Sweadner's Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus sweadneri) Charles V. Covell, Jr., Chairman 207 NE 9th A venue High Springs, Florida by Kathy Malone ..................................... 105 Gainesville, FL 32601 3. 2015 Schaus' Swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus) E-Mail: [email protected] Monitoring on Key Largo, Florida by Marc C. Minno ....................................................................... 106 Jeffrey R. Slotten: Treasurer 5421 NW 69th Lane 4. A Skipper Butterfly Trapped by the Insectivorous Airplant Gainesville, FL 32653 Catopsis berteroniana (Bromeliaceae) in Northern Florida E-Mail: [email protected] by Marc C. Minno ....................................................................... 108 Donald M. Stillwaugh: Secretary 5. Lepidoptera Damaging Chinese Tallowtree Triadica sebifera 604 Summerhill Ct Apt. D (Euphorbiaceae) in Northern Florida Safety Harbor, FL 34695-4387 by Marc C. Minno ....................................................................... 11 0 E-Mail: don.still waugh 7 @verizon.net 6. iTrampas Mas Baratas!- Hampers in Honduras Marc Minno: Membership Coordinator by Deborah L. Matthews and Jacqueline Y. Miller .................... 112 600 NW 34 Terrace 7. Look for Unusual Moths in Higher Elevations Gainesville, FL 32607 by Kelly Richers ......................................................................... 114 E-Mail: [email protected] 8. A Visit to the Triplehorn Insect Collection at Rick Gillmore: Member-at-Large Ohio State University by F. Matthew Blaine ............................. .l16 1772 Willa Circle 9. James McNeill Whistler- "The Butterfly Signature" Winter Park, FL 32792 or "Whistler's Butterfly" by J. Barry Lombardini ...................... 119 E-Mail: [email protected] 10. Acronicta oblinita (Noctuidae: Acronictinae) Lary Reeves: Member-at-Large Larval Herbivory on Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) 515 NE Blvd. Inflorescences by Lance A. Durden ............................................ 120 Gainesville, FL 32601 11. How Might a Black Witch Moth Appeal to E-Mail: [email protected] Halloween Folklore? by Bill Lindemann .................................. .l22 Dave Morgan: Website Manager 12. Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) at 4355 Cobb Parkway Buffalo Springs Lake, Near Lubbock, Texas Suite J461 by J. Barry Lombardini. .............................................................. l23 Atlanta, GA 30339 13. Metamorphosis Brazilian- Style by Craig W. Marks ...................... .124 E-Mail: [email protected] 1 14. Announcement: 64 h Annual Meeting ofthe J. Barry Lombardini: Editor Lepidopterists' Society ............................................................... 126 3507 41st Street 15. Recent Visitor to Vernon & Charlotte Brou at the Abita Lubbock, Texas79413 E-Mail: jbarry [email protected] Entomological Study Site by Vernon A. Brou Jr ....................... .l27 16. Sickle-Winged Skipper (Eantis tamenund) Life History The Southern Lepidopterists' Society is by Berry Nal1. ............................................................................. .128 open to anyone with an interest in the 17. Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa) Life History Lepidoptera of the southern region of the United States. Annual membership by Berry Nal1. ............................................................................. .130 dues: 18. Natural History Notes on Giant Silkworms (Saturniidae) of the Catskill Mountains, New York Regular $25.00 by Robert Dirig .......................................................................... .J32 Student $15.00 Sustaining $30.00 19. Life History Notes on Catocala messalina Guenee Contributor $50.00 by Jeffrey R. Slotten ................................................................... 144 Benefactor $70.00 20. Reports of State Coordinators ........................................................... 147 A newsletter, The News of the Southern Lepidopterists' Society is published four times annually. ******************************************* Information about the Society may be ******************************** obtained from the Membership Coordinator or the Society Website: www.southernlepsoc.org/ ******************* ********* SOUTHERN LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS VOLUME 37 N0.3 (2015), PG. 105 SWEADNER'S JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK (CALLOPHRYS GRYNEUS SWEADNERI), HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA BY KATHY MALONE IN MY YARD!!! After a I 0-year wait for my all-time favorite butterfly, a show stopper made a grand entrance in the yard during our garage sale. A friend was over helping. During one of the slack times, I gave her a tour of my yard, camera in tow. The story goes like this: As I photograph a Phaon Crescent my Irish friend Mary Lynch asks, "What's that green thing?" I figure she sees a grasshopper. She persists, "There's a green one here." Much to my delight I look up and there is a fresh Sweadner's Juniper Hairstreak right in front of my eyes! Can words express my excitement? No. My husband and I had planted three seedling Red Cedars 10 years before, hoping this day would come. Dr. Akers Pence, a University of Florida scientist who studied sweadneri, quips, "They Sweadner's Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus sweadnen) show up when you are not looking for them." Hope and patience win again! And so does having the luck of the Irish around. Mary attracted three rare western birds to her yard only several miles from my house: The Calliope and Rufous hummingbirds, and a Western Tanager. If she can attract rare birds, what trouble is a small butterfly? (Kathy Malone, E-Mail: [email protected]) ************************************************ JAMES ADAMS' CHALLENGE TO THE SLS MEMBERS TO WRITE ARTICLES ON THE "DANGERS OF LEPPING" AND "FIRST ENCOUNTERS" Thanks to James Adams for his contribution of$10 for his challenge to the membership of the SLS to write articles for the NEWS on "The Dangers of Lepping". Vernon Brou met this challenge with his article last issue [Volume 37 No.2, (20 15), pg. 88-89] entitled "May 17, 2015 Field Trip to Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana" when it rained almost constantly and Vernon " .. .brushed against a plant that had thousands of long needle-like thorns that went through my knee-high socks .. .". This encounter resulted in potential serious pathology to his leg. James will contribute up to $100 for articles like Vernon's "Dangers ofLepping" and articles on "First Encounters". Many thanks James!!! SOUTHERN LEPIDOPTERISTS' NEWS VOLUME 37 N0.3 (2015), PG.106 2015 SCHAUS' SWALLOWTAIL (HERACLIDES ARISTODEMUS PONCEANUS) MONITORING ON KEY LARGO, FLORIDA BY MARC C. MINNO The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Imperiled species of butterflies observed include Florida Commission, University ofFiorida, and the Miami Blue Duskywing, Silver-banded Hairstreak, Florida Chapter ofthe North American Butterfly Association are Purplewing, Florida White, Bahamian Swallowtail, and coordinating monitoring of the endangered Schaus' Schaus' Swallowtail. These species are imperiled in Swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus Florida because their populations have declined to (Schaus)) and other butterflies in the Upper Florida dangerously low levels. Although, the Florida Keys. Dozens of volunteers searched historic