he Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET) was created in 1995 by the Deputy Chief for State and Private TForestry, USDA Forest Service, to develop and deliver technologies to protect and improve the health of American forests. This book was published by FHTET as part of the technology transfer series. http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/ United States Depart- US Forest US Forest Service ment of Agriculture Service Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team Cover design Chuck Benedict. Photo, Taylor’s Checkerspot, Euphydryas editha taylori. Photo by Dana Ross. See page 38. For copies of this publication, contact: Dr. Jeffrey C. Miller Richard Reardon Oregon State University FHTET, USDA Forest Service Department of Rangeland Ecology 180 Canfield Street and Management Morgantown, WV 26505 202 Strand Agriculture Hall 304-285-1566 Corvallis, Washington, USA [email protected] 97331-2218 FAX 541-737-0504 Phone 541-737-5508 [email protected] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program informa- tion (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Inde- pendence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal Recycling Program Printed on recycled paper. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS AND WOODLANDS: RARE, ENDANGERED, AND MANAGEMENT- SENSITIVE SPECIES Jeffrey C. Miller Department of Rangeland Ecology and Mangement Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Paul C. Hammond Department of Zoology Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon his book is dedicated to Robert Micheal Pyle and David McCorkle, pioneers T and leaders in conservation, and experts in Pacific Northwest butterflies. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ean Miller provided assistance on caterpillar collecting trips and reviewed the penultimate draft Jof the first four chapters of this book. We built our knowledge about the macromoths of the Pacific Northwest from the legacy of past collectors. The most notable contributors to information about species lists, distributions, and flight periods have been Stanley G. Jewett, Jr., C. William Nelson, James H. Baker, Elmer L. Griepentrog, Victor B. McHenry, Kenneth J. Goeden, Ernst Dornfeld, Dave McCorkle, and Harold Rice. The extensive collecting efforts by these individuals, and many others, created the foundation for our work. The following individuals provided their expertise in identifying Lepidoptera during parts of our ongoing research projects regarding butterflies and moths of the Pacific Northwest: Doug Ferguson, Don LaFontaine, Paul Opler, Jon Shepard, Jim Troubridge, Lars Crabo, and Dana Ross. The following individuals helped collect butterflies and moths and rear caterpillars: Gary Parsons, Dana Ross, Pete Oboyski, Mike LaMana, Carolyn ver Linden, Joshua Miller, Jacob Miller, Kimberly Miller, Jean Miller, Norm Anderson, Jack Lattin, Maret Pajute, Rich Bowden, and Bill Heyborne. David McCorkle provided photographs of caterpillars of Atlides halesus, Mitoura johnsoni, Philotiella leona, Boloria selene atrocostalis, Euphydryas editha taylori, Speyeria atlantis dodgei, Speyeria zerene hippolyta, Speyeria mormonia, Parnassius clodius, Colias nastes streckeri. He also provided beautifully spread specimens of Incisalia polia, Mitoura johnsoni, and Colias nastes. Rick Westcott provided the photograph of the Catocala ilia caterpillar. All other photographs were taken by JCM (taxa) or Paul Hammond (habitats). Dana Ross took the field photographs of Polites mardon and Euphydryas editha taylori. Chris Marshal provided access to the OSU Insect Museum. John Sanchez and Carl Frounfelker of USDA Forest Service (Corvallis) offered their time to discuss forest management issues. Chuck Benedict, ITX/USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, served as editor, did the layout and indexing, and ushered the project through the printing process. Richard Reardon proposed the project and provided financial support. Support for the publication of this book came from the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. Over many years and many projects partial funding for the various research studies in the forests of the Northwest has been provided to us by Oregon State University, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Willamette Institute for Biological Control, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Department of Military, and the NSF program for Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) DEB-80-12122, DEB-96-32921, and DEB-02-18088. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS AND WOODLANDS: RARE, ENDANGERED, AND MANAGEMENT-SENSITIVE SPECIES ii ABOUT THIS BOOK e present a compilation of 122 taxa of butterflies and moths that are of special interest in Wthe Pacific Northwest, regarding forest management and conservation. Our list is not a nomination slate for survey and monitor species; rather, it is an assemblage of species that should be considered as premier taxa for assessment of their current status and as candidates for long- term measures of populations for interests directed toward managing forests for biodiversity, and for comparing management/conservation policies. The list of butterflies and moths is dominated by species and subspecies that are uncommon or rare, but we have included species that are widely distributed and associated with particular plant communities of special interest in the Pacific Northwest, including oak woodlands, alpine meadows, sand dunes, and wetlands. We present at least one photo of an adult for each taxon. More often than not we provide additional images of both sexes, and sometimes compare the dorsal wing surface to the ventral wing surface to serve as an aid in identification. Also, for each species we offer a short statement about identification, ecology, sensitivity issues, and population assessment. For a few of the species we present an image of the caterpillar. Unfortunately, many of the uncommon and rare species in the Pacific Northwest have not been photographed. In fact, the caterpillar and its foodplant are not known for some of the species. It is our hope that this book will stimulate studies into the ecology of these species and provide a stimulus for conservation efforts to keep them from qualifying for inclusion on the Federal Endangered Species List. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST FORESTS AND WOODLANDS: RARE, ENDANGERED, AND MANAGEMENT-SENSITIVE SPECIES iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. I ABOUT THIS BOOK ..................................................................................... II CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .........................................................................1 THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ...................................................................................4 THE LEPIDOPTERA ...........................................................................................12 CONSERVATION ..............................................................................................15 CHAPTER 2: ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AND FOREST MANAGEMENT .............................. 17 ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES .................................................................17 LOCAL AND ENDEMIC SPECIES ...........................................................................18 WIDESPREAD BUT RARE SPECIES .........................................................................18 OAK WOODLAND SPECIES ...............................................................................18 CLIMATE-SENSITIVE SPECIES ...............................................................................20 WEED BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS ................................................................20 MANAGEMENT-SENSITIVE SPECIES ........................................................................21 West-side Forests .......................................................................... 21 East-side Forests and Rangelands .................................................. 22 Insect Pest Control ........................................................................ 24 CHAPTER 3: MONITORING BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, AND CATERPILLARS .................... 27 BUTTERFLIES ...................................................................................................27 MOTHS ........................................................................................................30 CATERPILLARS .................................................................................................32 CHAPTER 4: SPECIAL CASE HISTORIES ............................................................ 35 CHAPTER 5: SPECIES PROFILES ....................................................................... 45 REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 223 INDEX ...................................................................................................