![]() Contact Richard Day, email: or phone (618) 547-3522. July 14, at the home of the Day family near Forbes State Park. ![]() Tracy Fox, coordinator, email: tracyfox®. July 4, Green River Wildlife Area, contact Cynthia McKee, July 13, greater Peoria area.Everyone raised their heads when someone shouted that there was a painted lady near the milk-īiologists to track short- and long-term population trends andĬensus takers follow a standard protocol to attain an accurate snapshot of the butterfly population.īutterfly enthusiasts interested in participating in the following counts should contact these individuals:Īngella Moorehouse, email: amoore June 29, Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, contact Susan Dees, July 1, Shawnee Hills Butterfly Count, coordinator is Kathy Phelps, email: Phone: So, what is an ETB? It is an eastern tailed blue, a small butterfly found in prairie communities. "I would guess it is an ETB," came the reply. Once everyone was in the sand prairie, they were soon shouting: "Grayling! Regal fritillary! American lady! Question mark! Monarch!" The different flora would mean different butterfly species. This sand prairie contains cacti and other plants typical of the western states. Then it was on to Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak on the western side of Mason County. The reasons for its disapppearance are not completely known. Although diligent searches have been made for this insect, none has been seen for six years. "I guess it is letting us know that there are still a few left here," someone said.īut there may not be any Arogos skippers left at Revis. Just as everyone was preparing to leave, a single dusky-winged skipper flew into the parking lot and landed near the feet of one of the workers. Although six skipper species were observed, there was only one Ottoe skipper, compared to hundreds in the past. The larve of skippers tend to be specific to one or a host plants. Skippers are known for their club-shaped antennae that have curved or hook-shaped ends. But the biggest concern, was that there were very few skippers. Only a few butterfly species were observed, as compared to counts in the recent past when as many as 35 species were seen. Overall, it had not been a good count at Revis. Others saw zebra swallowtails and summer azures, but it was the day of the pearl crescents. "I saw a great spangled fritillary and a wood satyr," said one person. The larva of this butterfly is known to feed on more than 100 plant species!īy noon, the count at Revis was completed, and people gathered in the parking lot to compare notes. Other butterflies, like the painted lady, aren't so particular. The relationship between the caterpillars and the host plant is sometimes so strong that the caterpillars will starve to death before they will eat anything else. The host plant for the zebra swallowtail is paw paw, snout caterpillars prefer hackberry leaves, Ottoe skipper larvae eat little bluestem grass, and the Creole pearly eye dines exclusively on giant cane. The selection of these areas as census sites was not an arbitrary decision.īesides" being known for their diverse butterfly populations, the sites also have a large number of plant species, Many butterflies, like other insects, depend upon a specific host plant for food during their larval stages. In most cases, census workers had to be able to identify individual butterfly species on sight. On this particular count, the number of adult, live butterflies was counted by species at Revis, Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak and Long Branch nature preserves in Mason County. The information that is obtained is used to determine species distribution and population sizes. Each year, the date of the event is centered around July 4 on selected sites that occur with Yes, butterflies are counted annually, much like waterfowl, nesting song birds and upland game. By the year 2000, the number of counts had increased to 421 in 44 states, three Mexican states and five Canadian provinces. Snout! Pearl crescent! Viceroy! Hackberry! The annual butterfly count was underway!īutterfly counts began in the United States in 1975, when only 29 counts were conducted. Of minutes, everyone was hiking through loess hill prairie, shouting names to a person holding a clipboard. Weather conditions were good as it wasn't windy and no rain was in the lorecust. Some held clipboards and pencils, while others held either one or two pocket-sized books. It was decorated with butterflies.Īllison was among the 15 people congregated in the parking lot at Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve south of Easton in Mason County last July. The hat of 10-year-old Allison Scroggin was a clue as to what was about to take place. It's the 27th year for an American tradition.
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