September 2003 Issue:
In This Edition:
In this issue: 1) Coming Events NABA's MISSION STATEMENT: 1. COMING EVENTS: Directions to each location are found below. Dress defensively against mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers. Bring water and sunscreen. We usually finish after 12 noon - lunch is always optional. Most walks and counts last about 2 ½ hours. If a longer time is required, it will be noted. Monday, September 1 (Labor Day). Butterfly Walk at Two Rivers (formerly Mark Twain) National Wildlife Refuge in Calhoun Co., Illinois. Leader: Dennis Bozzay. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Riverlands Demonstration Area, on 367 just south of the Alton Bridge. We will carpool from there to the Brussels Ferry (free) and on to the Refuge. Easy, moderate length walks. Bring water, lunch and binoculars. Restrooms are available at headquarters. The distance to Two Rivers will make a full day trip and we will return back to Riverlands by late afternoon. Call Dennis Bozzay for more information. Sunday September 7. Picnic (1:00pm) Busch Wildlife. We will meet at the picnic tables behind the visitor's center or headquarters building. Bring your own picnic food, and NABA will provide the drinks. Butterfly walk will follow the picnic! Sunday, September 14. State Count #4 at Busch Wildlife. Meet at 10:00. Leader: Jim Ziebol. Indoor restrooms in Visitors’ Center; rustic toilets throughout the site; beverage vending machines. Limited walking - we drive from place to place. Tuesday, September 16. 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. "Monarchs and Other Fall Butterflies," class taught by Yvonne Homeyer and Jim Ziebol at St. Louis Community College - Meramec. Field trip on Sat. Sept. 20 (location to be announced). Call Meramec at (314) 984-7777 to register. Saturday, September 20. Butterfly Walk at Young Conservation Area. Meet at 10:00 a.m. Leader: Torrey Berger. Lunch optional. No restrooms or other facilities. This walk could last about 3 hours and will require a lot of walking. Saturday, September 27 and Sun. Sept. 28. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Butterfly House Fall Festival, Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield. The third annual event is held to promote appreciation of arthropods and gardening by providing an educational and entertaining festival with hands-on opportunities, demonstrations, crafts and food. NABA St. Louis will have a display table at this event on both days. Saturday, September 27. 9 a.m.12 noon. Butterfly Gardening class at Missouri Botanical Garden, taught by Tom Terrific Krauska. The class will be held in Room SG-24-A (the Botanical Room), and there is a fee of $35 for MBG members, $40 for non-members, and includes a copy of Tom Terrific's "Ten Commandments of Butterfly Gardening." DIRECTIONS: Busch Wildlife: From St. Louis County, take I-64 (Hwy 40) across the Missouri River bridge and exit at Hwy. 94. Go left (south) on Hwy 94 approximately 1 mile to Hwy D. Turn right onto Hwy D and go about 1.5 miles to the entrance on your right. Turn right and at the T intersection, turn right again and proceed to the parking lot at the Visitor's Center. Meet at the Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden at the bottom of the parking lot. Young Conservation Area: Take I-44 west to Hwy 109 & W exit. Turn left onto W. Go south on Hwy W for 2 miles. At the T intersection, turn right onto Hwy FF and go for 2.7 miles to a well-marked parking lot on the left. There is Mo. Dept. of Conservation sign at the parking lot. There are gasoline stations on Hwy W to stop for restrooms; these are the last public facilities. Mark Twain (Two Rivers) National Wildlife Refuge: Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Riverlands Demonstration Area, on 367 just south of the Alton Bridge. We will carpool from there to the Brussels Ferry (free) and on to the Refuge. 2. JULY 2003 BUTTERFLY REPORT by Yvonne Homeyer Correction to June Butterfly Report: The first Coral Hairstreak was seen by Ron Goetz on 6/21 at McMaster Woods, an Illinois State Nature Preserve. It was nectaring on Common Milkweed. The slowdown in butterfly numbers noted in June continued throughout July. This was true all over the St. Louis area - in home gardens as well as natural areas like Busch, Tyson, Hilda Young, etc. July is the beginning of the peak of the butterfly season in terms of species flying and numbers that should be seen, so the scarcity of butterflies in July is a concern. On 7/1, Torrey Berger found Black and Tiger Swallowtails, Snouts, Orange Sulphur, Painted Lady, Common Sootywing and Common Checkered Skipper at Horseshoe Lake. One Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Snout, 3 Red-spotted Purples, 1 Monarch, 6 Wood Nymphs, and 1 Byssus Skipper were among the 19 species seen at Hilda Young C.A. on 7/1 (DB, JZ). Dianne Benjamin saw a Variegated Fritillary at the Green Center on 7/1. A very fresh Juniper Hairstreak was found at Busch C.A. on 7/3 (YH, JZ). Jim Ziebol spotted a worn Bell’s Roadside Skipper at Hilda Young C.A. on 7/4. Dennis Bozzay’s visit to Busch Wildlife on July 4 produced 14 species, including 2 Giant Swallowtails, 2 Cabbage Whites, 6 Great Spangled Fritillaries, 2 Red-spotted Purples, 50 Hackberry Emperors, and 1 Tawny Emperor. Jim Ziebol, Yvonne Homeyer, Torrey Berger, Jeannie Moe, Betty Walters and Linda Virga participated in the 4th of July Count at Busch on 7/6. A Dion Skipper found by Jim was a record for Busch and the first Dion Skipper seen in Missouri at a NABA event. A wetlands butterfly, the Dion Skipper has declined as its habitat has disappeared. The count total was 24 species and 281 individuals - all in all, a slow day. Three species accounted for over 50% of the total individuals seen: Eastern Tailed-Blue, Pearl Crescent and Little Wood Satyr. A Bronze Copper and a Variegated Fritillary were seen at Busch on 7/11 (JZ). On 7/12, Betty Walters and Ron Goetz led the 4th of July Count at Shaw Nature Reserve, joined by Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, Jim Ziebol, Anne McCormack, Linda Virga, Yvonne Homeyer and guests Carrie Tanner and Bob Tanner. The count total came to 43 species and 480 individuals. Three species accounted for 60% of the total butterflies seen: Eastern Tailed-Blue, Pearl Crescent and Little Wood Satyr, just as occurred on the Busch count. All 6 Swallowtails were seen, plus Cloudless Sulphur (1), Sleepy Orange (1 - RG), Red-banded Hairstreak (1), Juniper Hairstreak (4), Goatweed (9), Red Admiral (3), Red-spotted Purple (1), American Lady (1), Monarch (8), Horace’s Duskywing (15), Wild Indigo Duskywing (2), Fiery Skipper (1 - RG), and Sachem (2 - RG), and Common Checkered-Skipper (1). The prairie was awash in blooms of Monarda, Purple Coneflower, Compass Plant and more, but there were very few butterflies seen. Only 2 Orange Sulphurs and 3 Cabbage Whites were encountered on the entire count. Ron Goetz found Juniper Hairstreaks in 3 counties: on 7/9 in his yard in St. Louis County, nectaring on Buddleia ‘Pink Delight’; on 7/11 at Shaw Nature Reserve, nectaring on Monarda fistulosa; and on 7/12 at Hilda Young C.A., nectaring on Ascelpias tuberosa. Torrey Berger had a Byssus Skipper nectaring on Rattlesnake Master at Cahokia Mounts on 7/15. Margaret Gilleo saw a Snout in her yard on 7/16. On 7/18 at Riverlands, Torrey Berger reported 1 Spicebush, 6 Cabbage Whites, 2 Cloudless Sulphurs, 8 Orange Sulphurs, 18 Little Yellows, 2 Monarchs, 6 Pearl Crescents, 2 Painted Ladies, 3 Viceroys (very scarce this summer), 3 E. Tailed-Blues, 4 Gray Hairstreaks, 1 Bronze Copper, 3 Snouts, 1 Silver-spotted Skipper. On 7/19, the tally for two hours of butterflying at Busch by Jim, Jeannie and Yvonne was only 14 species. There were no Orange Sulphurs. Although Snouts were fairly numerous, low numbers were recorded for Cabbage White (1), Eastern Tailed-Blue (5), Red Admiral (2) and skippers (1 Silver-spotted and 4 Least). The following day, Dennis Bozzay found 20 species at Busch, including a Gray Comma that landed on his binoculars and shirt, a Tawny Emperor, 12 Snouts, 10 Painted Ladies, 1 Monarch, 8 Silver-spotted Skippes, 1 Least Skipper, 3 Peck’s Skippers and 1 Crossline Skipper. Also on 7/20, at Hilda Young C.A., Yvonne observed 11 species (low), the highlight being a Juniper Hairstreak. Dennis Bozzay reported 15 species seen at Hilda Young C.A. on 7/22, including 1 Juniper Hairstreak and a Pipevine laying eggs on a tiny sprig of host plant just 2 inches tall (only buds, no leaves). An exception to the low numbers occurred on 7/22/03 along a stretch of several miles along the Levee Road in Monroe County, IL (in the Mississippi River flood plain). Jim Ziebol reported high numbers of Cabbage White (100+), Orange Sulphur (500+) Painted Ladies (100+), Variegated Fritillaries (500+), and Monarchs (100+), as well as 1 Tiger, 1 Pipevine and 4 Black Swallowtails, 1 Checkered White, 12 Clouded Sulphurs, 3 Bronze Coppers, 12 E. Tailed-Blues, 5 Pearl Crescents, 7 Red Admirals, 20 Buckeyes, 1 Common Checkered Skipper and 2 Sachems. Dennis Bozzay observed 15 species at Hilda Young C.A. on 7/22, including 4 Pipevine, 12 Cabbage Whites, 6 Orange Sulphurs, 4 Little Yellows, 1 Juniper Hairstreak, 4 Painted Ladies, 3 Monarchs, 3 Silver-spotted Skippers, 1 Crossline and 1 Least Skipper. On 7/23, Dianne Benjamin visited Columbia Bottoms C.A. at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and reported 3 Pipevines, 6 Cabbage Whites, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Monarchs (2 on Common Milkweed), 3 Pearl Crescents and 1 Question Mark. Ron Goetz spent most of the day at St. Francois State Park on 7/29 and logged 22 butterfly species with117 individuals seen, including Red-banded Hairstreak, 2 Common Roadside-Skippers (locally rare), Common Sootywing, one Crossline Skipper and several Horace’s and Wild Indigo Duskywings. Dennis had a very positive day at Busch Wildlife on 7/29, when he found 28 species and 535 individuals. This day and Jim’s day on 7/22 on the Levee Road were the two best reports received for the month of July. On 7/29, Dennis saw 2 Pipevines, 8 Black Swallowtails, 10 Spicebush, 30 Cabbage Whites, 20 Orange Sulphurs, 20 Little Yellows, 1 Cloudless Sulphur, 40 ETBs, 40 Pearl Crescents, 3 Question Marks, 2 E. Commas, 4 Gray Commas, 1 Red Admiral, 80 Snouts, 1 Buckeye, 5 Red-spotted Purples, 2 Viceroys, 200 Hackberry Emperors, 1 N. Pearly-eye, 20 Little Wood-Satyrs, 15 Monarchs, 3 Silver-spotted Skippers, 2 Southern Cloudywings, 1 Horace’s Duskywing, 1 Swarthy Skipper, 15 Least Skipper and 1 Delaware Skipper. However, 5 days later, on 8/3, when Jim and Yvonne visited Busch, their 3-hour trip produced only 18 species and a mere 61 individuals. In between Dennis’s visit on 7/22 and Yvonne and Jim’s visit on 7/29, there had been two night-time storms in the area. Whether that accounted for the steep drop-off in numbers is unknown. Garden reports: Pipevine Swallowtail larvae were present on their host plant at Dennis Bozzay’s garden on 7/5. In his garden on 7/11, Torrey Berger observed 1 Tiger, 1 Spicebush, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Snouts, 3 Silver-spotted Skippers, 4 Pecks, 1 Crossline and 1 Zabulon Skipper. That is a good variety for a garden, especially this July when butterflies were slow all over. Dennis saw a Tiger Swallowtail and a Cabbage White on 7/12; and Pipevine, Tiger, Cabbage White, Little Yellow, Red Admiral, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Monarch and Silver-spotted Skipper on 7/13. A Gray Comma was a good find in Ron Goetz’s garden on 7/24. Dave Berry reported more butterflies at his garden in July than in June. He had good numbers of Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Snout, Painted Lady, Monarch, Horace’s Duskywing, Silver-spotted Skipper and Peck’s Skipper. He has also seen one or more individuals of the following: Red Admiral, American Lady, Gray Hairstreak, Buckeye, Fiery Skipper and Sachem. Best of all, he reported several Monarch caterpillars on his milkweed and on 7/28 observed a Monarch emerge from its chrysalis. Carol Asbury reported Tiger Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Cabbage Whites, Painted Lady and several Monarchs at her home garden (unfortunately, no sightings of eggs or caterpillars). Ron Goetz reported that American Ladies were seen in his garden on 5 days in July and Painted Ladies were seen on 4 days. He observed Silver-spotted Skipper, Horace’s Duskywing, Fiery Skipper, Peck’s Skipper and Sachem (1-3 at a time). Skippers are not being seen in large numbers, even common ones like Dun. Few Giant Swallowtails and Viceroys are being seen this year. As noted before, Orange Sulphurs and Cabbage Whites are down in number and when they are seen, it is sporadic. Please submit sightings by the last day of the month to Yvonne Homeyer (homeyer@earthlink.net; 314 963 7750). An asterisk denotes video or photo of unusual or hard-to-find species. Bold means first report of the season. CONTRIBUTORS: Carol & Charles Asbury, Dianne Benjamin, Torrey Berger, Dave Berry, Dennis Bozzay, Ron Goetz, Yvonne Homeyer, Tom Krauska, Scott & Annie Marshall, Jeannie Moe, Jim Ziebol. 3. 2003 BUSCH BUTTERFLY COUNT RESULTS by Yvonne Homeyer The 4th of July Count at Busch Wildlife was held on July 6. Jim Ziebol was the leader and Torrey Berger, Yvonne Homeyer, Jeannie Moe, Linda Virga, and Betty Walters participated. Here are the butterflies seen: Pipevine Swallowtail 1 4. BUTTERFLIES ARE DOWN - WHAT’S UP? by Yvonne Homeyer Everyone agrees - this summer ranks at the bottom of our collective memory in terms of how few butterflies are being seen. Whether in the cities, suburbs, or natural/conservation areas, whether driving along city streets or interstate highways, we’re just not seeing many butterflies. And July should be a busy month with lots of butterflies easily seen flying around. The season started off as expected, with typical numbers. But by mid-June, the spring broods were finished and it was time for the summer broods to start. And that’s when we began to notice the problem. Common butterflies like Orange Sulphur and Cabbage White have all but disappeared from the local landscape. Giant Swallowtail, Viceroy, American Lady, Gray Hairstreak, Silver-spotted Skipper, Dun Skipper, Least Skipper, Peck’s Skipper, and Sachem - what happened to them this year? Woodland and edge species like Pearl Crescent and Little Wood-Satyr have been more numerous. Eastern Tailed-Blues, which can do well in disturbed areas, are also around. So, if our local breeding species are down, what about migrant species that wander up from areas to the south of us? Cloudless Sulphur, Dainty Sulphur, Painted Lady, Buckeye, Common Checkered Skipper have been just as scarce. Little Yellow is the only migrant that has been seen in near normal numbers. Alana Studebaker, a chapter member in Decatur, IL, sent me an email on July 31 noting a similar decline in her area. "By this time of year, I usually have hundreds of butterflies in my ½ acre butterfly gardens. The hop vines are filled with the caterpillars of Question Marks and Commas, the milkweed is full of Monarch caterpillars, the pipevine with Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars, the arctic willow with Viceroy and Red-spotted Purple caterpillars . . you get the idea. This year, the numbers are so low that in some species they are nonexistent! The last few days I’ve seen a few Questions Marks, a couple of Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Red-spotted Purples, Tiger Swallowtails and Cabbage Whites but NOTHING like the past ten years. So far this year I have not seen a single Pipevine, Spicebush or Buckeye. Is this happening in other places, too? I am worried sick about this obvious decline in the butterfly populations. Our city is not spraying but we must be getting the fallout from somewhere." Richard & Susan Day live in a rural area near Alma, IL. Surrounding their home are extensive butterfly gardens which have, in past years, attracted large numbers of butterflies. This year, they are reporting a significant decline in the numbers seen in their yard. Since the decline cuts across most species, both breeders and migrants, and the decline is being noticed in urban and rural areas, that would seem to suggest a cause that affects butterflies in general rather than a few species in particular. It’s not so easy to pinpoint or agree on the reason or reasons. Some speculate that the cool, rainy weather of early summer contributed to the decline. We had some storms in July. Others think that pesticide spraying - including drift - could be a factor. Bioengineered crops were studied a few years ago and yielded mixed conclusions, although some studies attributed the deaths of Monarch and Black Swallowtail larvae to the pollen of genetically-engineered corn. What do our members think is going on? Let us hear from you. We’ll try and publish all comments in the next newsletter. 5. SHAW NATURE RESERVE BUTTERFLY CENSUS, Gray Summit, Franklin Co., MO Date: Sunday, August 10, 2003, 10am - 1:30pm Participant Names: Debbie Heffern, Kathy Heffern, Dennis Bozzay, Bob Siemer, Ann Earley, Jim Ziebol, Nels Holmberg, James Trager, Betty Walters Temperature: H 85 / L 66; Humidity: 75(+/-)% Wind: Relatively Still to NNE 5 to 10 MPH Sky: Partly Cloudy = 21-50% Clouds COMMENTS: Area: From Trail House, Service Road to E Prairie, to E Upland Woodland, to E Glade, to Wildflower Trail, to Gravel Bar. Other Comments: Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail seen in black form. Giant Swallowtail, 5th Instar Larva on Prickly Ash - Photos! Dragonflies: Widow & 12-Spot Skimmers; Halloween Pennant Species: Total: Black Swallowtail 2 TOTAL SPECIES: 23 6. WEBSTER GROVES ASKED TO RECONSIDER SPRAYING by Yvonne Homeyer On Tuesday, Aug. 19, several people addressed the City Council of Webster Groves with their concerns about pesticide spraying. Speaking were Katy Henry, a Webster Groves resident and attorney with the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, who initiated the effort; Kathleen O’Keefe, a Webster Groves resident and NABA Secretary; Yvonne Homeyer, president of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society; and a Webster Groves resident who is involved in several organizations. Webster Groves is one of many municipalities that contracts with the St. Louis County Health Dept. to spray for mosquitoes. The speakers asked the City Council to reevaluate its pesticide spraying policy. Webster Groves residents who are concerned about pesticide spraying should contact Steve Wylie, City Manager (963-5305, wylies@webstergroves.org, or 4 East Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119), as well as their representative on the City Council. NABA will be submitting information to the city, but it is equally important for the Webster Groves officials to hear from their constituents. Please spread the word to friends and family who live in Webster Groves. Thank you. 7. ST. LOUIS NABA PARTICIPATES IN BABLER PARK BUG DAY Bug Day was held on August 2 at Babler State Park west of St. Louis, and NABA St. Louis had one of 3 display tables at this family-oriented educational event. Ann Earley and Bob Siemer staffed the NABA display table and talked with over 40 adults and children about NABA and butterflies in general. Attendees were very interested in learning about various local butterflies, host plants and nectar sources. Many thanks to the staff at Babler for inviting our chapter to participate in this event. 8. AND MORE... NEW MEMBERS: NEWSLETTER ARTICLES WELCOME: YOUR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: President Ann Earley If you have questions or suggestions, e-mail Ann Earley (aee623@prodigy.net). Our webpage is: www.naba.org/chapters/nabasl/stlouis.htm MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: If you would like to join NABA, please fill out this application. You will become a member of both NABA and the local St. Louis Chapter, if you live within the St. Louis metropolitan area or nearby Illinois area: Name ____________________________________________ Dues are $30 (regular) and $40 (family) per year. Please make check payable to NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLY ASSOCIATION. Please mail this form with your check to: Scott Marshall, Membership, 609 West Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119. |
Editor: Dave Larson
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