(609) 652-1776 17 March 1990 David L. Beall, Manager Forsythe N.W.R. Brigantine Division P.O. Box 72 Oceanville, NJ 08231 Dear David: Enclosed is my report for June 1989 to January 1990, along with several items related to the Monarch tagging project. As I add more species to the 1 ist, I will provide you with updates. I have begun spring 1 ight-trapping, and I will resume baiting in April or May. I talked to Dr. Dale Schweitzer about the possibility of additional rare species on Little Beach. He doubts that any significant lepidoptera would be found, so it might not be worth the trouble to take the light traps, etc. out. There could be other rare insects there, but we don't have the taxonomic expertise to identify true bugs, flies, etc. In any case, as long as the habitat isn't severely altered, for instance, by vehicles, the insects ought to be alright. Has the Refuge actually acquired Oceanville Bog? If so, it may be worthwhile to run the 1 ight trap there, since it is a different habitat than any I ave checked so far. · -.·~ l}LJ Manager _Office Asst. ~ rlma:-y ".sst. _Secretary '", .I( ·(. .,._ r. B...... " ...... 1 1, _Malnt#1 J. Cr omar t i e e Professor _i\falnt #2 ental Studies _out R~c. FlGnnor _Barnegat _coop/ Bio-Aide _File _Discard encl --------- - A College of the New Jersey System of Higher Education - Pomona, New Jersey 08240-9988 PRELIMINAiRY PROGRESS REPORT INSECT SURIJEY, FORSYTHE NAiTICNAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BRIGANTINE DIVISION Conducted under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Use Permit #63262 June 1989 - January 1990 William J. Cromartie Associate Professor of Entomology Stockton State College GOALS The goals of my research were: (1) To assess the insect fauna of the Brigantine Division, Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, (2) To determine the presence of rare or threatened insect species, according to the ranking system utilized by the N.J. Natural Heritage Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and (3) To assess the role of the marshes and coastal strip in the movement patterns of migrant insects, especially the Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. ACCOMPLISl-t1ENTS Table 1 shows days and nights in the field from June 1, 1989 to January 15, 1990. This work has resulted in a collection of specimens, representing perhaps 300-400 species of lepidoptera, about 50 species of odonata, and lesser numbers of other orders of insects. A partial 1 ist of lepidoptera is included at the end of this report. A complete list awaits determination of the remainder of the specimens. HIGHLIGHTS - (1) Two specimens, taken at a 1 ight trap in the wildlife refuge, establish a significant northward range extension for Glenoides texanaria a small geometrid moth previously known in New Jersey only from Cumberland and Cape May Counties. (2) On September 9, in the field adjacent to the registration station, I collected a larva from camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris which proved to be that of Cucull ia alfarata an uncomnon noctuid moth whose immature stages were very poorly known. (3) Baiting this January near refuge headquarters yielded a specimen of Lithophane lepida adipel a rare noctuid moth not recorded in southern New Jersey since 1971, but which has now reappeared in Cumberland County and at the refuge. (4) That same night also produced Eupsil ia cirripalea another uncomnon winter moth. GENERAL FINDINGS - Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Brigantine Division does not appear to be an area of unusually distinctive insect fauna. It contains most of the common pine barrens species expected in the region, along with species associated with coastal habitats, such as Papaipema duovata which feeds on seaside goldenrod. None of the species thus far encountered rank high on the New Jersey Heritage list and none are listed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, but there may be additional rare species <such as Lithophane lemmeri and Macrochilo santee-rival is) to be discovered. Further exploration, especially of the more mature forests in the Motts Creek area is warranted. The butterfly fauna of the refuge is rich, but not unusual for the area, except in the abundance of Saltmarsh Skipper Panoquina panoquin for obvious reasons. A copy of the 1989 Xerces Society Fourth of July Butterfly Count report that includes the refuge is attached. Further fieldwork should add several dozen more species to the list. There are also a large number of southern migrant moths and butterflies which appear in the fall, particularly on the dikes, and these vagrants could greatly increase the total species 1 ist if collecting is continued for additional seasons. There is a diverse fauna of dragonflies and damselflies which have not been fully checked for rare or unusual species. Determination of the 1989 specimens should be accomplished in the spring of 1990. Several other small sets of specimens, such as a group of pentatomid bugs from the saltmarsh habitat, must await the opportunity to consult specialists in those groups. MONARCH MARKING - This project occupied several additional days of fieldwork in the fall (see attached summary sheet). It has continued to document the heavy use of the dikes at the refuge by migrating Monarchs, but has yet to yield any useful recoveries of tagged specimens. A brief field trip to Assateague National Seashore showed that that area is also heavily travelled by migrants. The lack of a large corps of volunteers at localities along the coast probably precludes any extensive data on migration. Unfortunately, the Monarch Project is no longer associated with the Xerces Society, and the future of this effort is now unclear. Data sheets for this season and correspondence are attached to this report. COLLABORATICN AND STUDENT INVOLVEMENT - I was fortunate to have the exp•rtise and encouragement of Dr. Dale Schweitzer, who did a number of key identifications, and who helped with some fieldwork. I was also assisted by two students, Ray Gourley and Tim Shough. FUTURE RESEARCH Further work at Forsythe in 1990-91 will aim to refine the data gathered in 1989-90, and to check a additional areas not visited this season. I will be doing some 1 ight and bait collecting this spring to complete the seasonal picture and possibly secure additional Lithophane lepida adipel including egg laying females to document the 1 ife cycle. There is also the possibility of conducting a survey on Little Beach to look for other rare species besides the cicindell id beetle already collected. TABLE 1 - Survey activities 1989-1990 Date Locality Method 1-2 Jun Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Blackl ight Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bl ackl i ght 5 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) 5-6 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Black 1 i gh t 7-8 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Blackl ight 8 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) 19 Jun Main dikes Net Experimental pool Net 19-20 Jun Experimental pool Blackl ight 20 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Net 21 Jun Main dikes Net Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Net Experimental pool Net 26 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bai t tra i 1 Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait tra i 1 26-27 Jun Experimental pool Blackl ight 27 Jun Experimental pool Net 28 Jun Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bait tra i 1 Doughty Creek below Lily Lake B 1 ac k 1 i gh t 30 Jun Borrow pit at N end of main dikes Net Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Net Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) 81 ack 1 i gh t 5 Jul Peoples trail, north of HQ Bl ackl i ght Peoples trail, north of HQ Bait tra i 1 8 Jul Butterfly count along auto tour route Net 10 Jul Oak/pine/hickory woodland <burned 1965) Bai t tra i 1 10-11 Jul Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bl ackl i ght 13 Jul Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bai t tra i 1 North end of main dikes Blackl ight 2-3 Aug Experimental pool Blackl ight 3 Aug Experimental pool Net 7-8 Aug Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Blacklight 9-10 Aug Leeds eco-tra i 1 Bl ackl i ght 14 Aug Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait trai 1 Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bait tra i 1 14-15 Aug Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Black 1 i gh t 16 Aug Main dikes Net Borrow pit at N end of main dikes Net 16-17 Aug Borrow pit at N end of main dikes Blackl ight 17 Aug Borrow pit at N end of main dikes Net 20-21 Aug Leeds eco-tra i 1 81 ack 1 i gh t 29-30 Aug South corner of main dikes Black 1 i gh t 5-6 Sep South corner of main dikes Blacklight 9 Sep Fields around HQ Net 12-13 Sep South corner of main dikes Blackl ight 20-21 Sep N end of dike between east & west pools Black 1 i gh t 27 Sep Main dikes Net 16-17 Oct North end of main dikes Blacklight South corner of main dikes B1 ac k 1 i gh t 24 Oct Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait trai 1 Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burn•d 1965) Bait trai 1 Experim•ntal pool Blackl ight 26 Oct Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait tra i 1 Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bait trai 1 27 Oct Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait trai 1 Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bait trai 1 15 Nov Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Net Cedar/maple/holly swamp edge Bait trai 1 Oak/pine/hickory woodland (burned 1965) Bait trai 1 1990 18 Jan Peoples Trail near HQ Bait trai 1 • : .J F i 1 e : br i g • bu t t er f 1 i es I Report: BUTTERFLIES.BRIG 4 FEB ~O Selection: BRIG is noi blank GENUS-SPECIES .