Past Issue August 2004
In This Edition:
1) Upcoming Events for August and September NABA's MISSION STATEMENT: 1. UPCOMING EVENTS FOR AUGUST and SEPTEMBER 2004: Beginners are welcome on every butterfly walk and count. Directions to each location are found at the end of the Calendar. Water, hat, and sunscreen are recommended for every outing. Tick prevention methods include wearing long pants and using insect repellant. Sat. Aug. 7, 10:00 a.m. "Bug Day" at Babler State Park (Wildwood, MO). Sun. Aug. 22. 4th of July Count at Horseshoe Lake. Meet at 10:00 at the front parking lot of Horseshoe Lake on Hwy. 111 side (main entrance). There is a $3.00 fee collected for NABA. Participants will be divided in small groups, with each group having a leader. Groups identify species, count individual butterflies, and record data. The count coordinator compiles the total Count results. Beginners are welcome, as each group will have one or more experienced butterfliers assigned to it. We could see several hard-to-find species such as Checkered White, Southern Dogface, Gorgone Checkerspot, Bronze Copper, Duke’s Skipper, and Dion Skipper. We should have a large variety of butterflies. Moderate walking. Lunch afterwards at the grocery store/restaurant "Tienda El Ranchito" (great food, cold beer) on Collinsville Road between Hwy. 203 and 111. Coordinator: Jim Ziebol. Sun. Aug. 29. Butterfly Walk at Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (NEW) in Calhoun County, IL. This outing was canceled last year due to rain. Harvester, Checkered White, Bronze Copper and Dion Skipper are possibilities. Butterflies should be numerous. Moderate walking combined with driving between stops. There are no public facilities on this outing as the Visitor’s Center will be closed and there are no gas stations, etc. with public restrooms. We will meet at Riverlands at 8:30 a.m. (see directions below) and cross over to Calhoun County by ferry. Bring lunch. We will finish around 2:30 but people can leave sooner if necessary. Leader: Dennis Bozzay. Sun. Sept. 19. Last of the Dept. of Conservation butterfly counts at Busch Wildlife. Meet at 10:00 at the Butterfly Garden (bottom of parking lot at Visitors’ Center). Leader: Jim Ziebol. DIRECTIONS: Horseshoe Lake: From downtown St. Louis, take I-64 (Hwy. 40) across the Poplar Street Bridge and stay on I-55/70 for several miles (do not follow I-64 when it bears to the right - stay on I-55/70 by bearing to the left). Exit at Hwy. 111. Go north (left) on Hwy. 111 and in about 3 miles you will see the entrance sign for Horseshoe Lake State Park on your left. Turn left and you will see the parking lot on your right. Pull in and we will meet here. There are rustic toilets at the parking lot. Riverlands / Two Rivers NWR outing: Meet at 8:30 am at the Visitor’s Center of Riverlands and we will caravan from there. To get to Riverlands, take I-270 and exit at Hwy. 367 north. Stay on 367 until just before the Clark Bridge that goes to Alton (do not cross bridge!). At the Fisca gas station on the Missouri side of the bridge, turn right into Riverlands and go straight on the main road; the Visitor’s Center is on the left. The Visitor’s Center is closed on weekends; rustic toilets are available a little farther down the road. 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. 2. JUNE 2004 BUTTERFLY REPORT by Yvonne Homeyer Ron Goetz saw a Tawny Emperor and Gorgone Checkerspots at Fults Hill Prairie on 6/2 and a Tawny-edged Skipper at Shaw N.R. on 6/3. Also on 6/3, Torrey Berger observed 15 Clouded Sulphurs, 8 Orange Sulphurs and 2 Question Marks at Horseshoe Lake. On 6/5, Yvonne and Jim found a Baltimore Checkerspot at Barton Fen in Iron County and a Hoary Edge at Grasshopper Hollow in Reynolds County. Anne McCormack reported Great Spangled Fritillary, Buckeye and Hackberry at Busch C.A. on 6/5 and she saw 3 Swallowtail species in her garden on 6/6 - Pipevine, Spicebush, the female black form of Tiger and the yellow form. Fiery Skipper appeared at Shaw N.R. on 6/7 (RG). The rare Swamp Metalmark was found at Victoria Glade on 6/10 (Jeannie Moe; photo Jack & Pat Harris*) and at St. Francois State Park on 6/11 (R. Goetz). On 6/10 at Victoria Glade, Jeannie also reported Gorgone Checkerspot (adult and caterpillars), Silvery Checkerspot, and Black Swallowtail. In early June, Red-banded Hairstreak, Banded Hairstreak, Giant and Spicebush Swallowtails were observed at Dave Berry’s garden. Dave has seen 28 species in his yard as of early June. At Busch on 6/11, Jeannie Moe and Jim Ziebol found Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Horace’s Duskywing, Mourning Cloak, Question Mark and Comma. On 6/11, Belle Warden found Summer Azure, Snout and Sun Skipper in her garden; Spicebush Swallowtails have been regular visitors. Belle’s Pipevine caterpillars are doing well. Margie Warden found a Zebra Swallowtail in Woodland Park in Collinsville. On 6/13, a Snout visited Dennis Bozzay’s garden and Jim Ziebol saw a Cloudless Sulphur in New Baden, IL. Our field trip to Gail Cross’s prairie in Gerald on 6/13 was a great success. Gail Cross, Dianne Benjamin, Jim Ziebol, Scott and Annie Marshall, Yvonne Homeyer, Cheryl Delashmit, Bill & Joyce Davit, and Martha Younkin attended. The group found 19 species, including many Wood-Nymphs, 2 Black Swallowtails, 1 Variegated Fritillary, many Great Spangled Fritillaries, 3 Snouts, 1 Buckeye, 2 Little Wood Satyrs, 2 Horace’s Duskywings, 1 Northern Broken-Dash, 3 Little Glassywings, and 8 Byssus Skippers. Blooming plants included Ohio Horsemint, New Jersey Tea (popular with the Byssus Skippers), Slender Mountain Mint, Butterfly Milkweed, Ox-eye Daisy, and Fringed Loosestrife. The thirsty group appreciated Gail’s iced tea waiting for us at the end of the walk. (Note: On Oct. 2 and 3, the Crosses will again host their Heritage Crafts weekend with plenty of local food specialities and crafts available). Simon Pursifull spotted a Pipevine Swallowtail at Fountain Lake Park in St. Charles on 6/14. On 6/16, Jim Ziebol found a Eufala Skipper at Tyson and several Wood-Nymphs at Hilda Young. On 6/17 at Shaw Nature Reserve, Coral Hairstreak, White M Hairstreak and Gorgone Checkerspots were observed by Ron Goetz, and Little Wood Satyr, Great Spangled Fritillary, Comma and Painted Lady were observed by Jeannie Moe. Dave Berry had a good find in his yard on 6/18 - a Gulf Fritillary* that strayed a little further north than usual. Jim Ziebol found Southern Dogface at Horseshoe Lake on 6/18. Belle Warden saw Great Spangled Fritillary, Pearl Crescent and Red Admiral at her home on 6/18. Susan Dees, who started the 4th of July Count in Mason County, IL, held this year’s count on 6/19. The group, consisting of Susan, several Springfield residents, two NABA members from Macomb, IL, Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer, went to three sand prairies that are now state-owned nature preserves. They are about an hour’s drive north of Springfield, IL. Regal Fritillary, American Copper, Gray Copper, Coral Hairstreak, Reakirt’s Blue, and Ottoe Skipper were highlights of the day. Torrey Berger found Little Yellow and Viceroy at Riverlands on 6/22. An Edwards’ Hairstreak was found at Shaw N.R. on 6/23 (RG). On 6/24, a Eufala Skipper was seen at Young C.A. (JZ) and Pipevine Swallowtail and Red-spotted Purple were found at Klondike County Park in St. Charles County (JM). Scott Marshall reported Gorgone Checkerspot and Horace’s Duskywing (female) at Valley View Glade on 6/26. The Shaw Nature Reserve Count was held on 6/26. Ron Goetz (coordinator), Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, Margaret Gilleo, Chuck Guenther, and Yvonne Homeyer participated. Highlights included Common Sootywing (a record for Shaw), Juniper Hairstreak, Sleepy Orange, Wood Nymph, Gorgone Checkerspot, Cloudless Sulphur, Little Yellow, Monarch, and Tiger, Giant, Black, Spicebush and Pipevine Swallowtails. During the Mo. Dept. of Conservation Count at Busch on 6/27, Jim Ziebol, Dennis Bozzay, Mary Eileen Rufkahr and Yvonne Homeyer tallied just 18 species and 87 individuals (a very low number, not weather-related) including Tiger, Pipevine and Spicebush Swallowtails, Little Yellow, Buckeye, Little Wood Satyr, Viceroy, Red-spotted Purple, Snout and a mere 3 species of skippers. Dave Berry’s float trip in Dent County on 6/26 was filled with butterfly activity, including a Harvester that landed in his canoe, a Gulf Fritillary, Red-spotted Purple, Snout, Juniper Hairstreak, Wood Nymph, Goatweed, and other species. Dave attracts Gulf Fritillaries wherever he goes (see 6/18). The last weekend in June (6/25-27), Vickie and Simon Pursifull observed many Zebra Swallowtails at Van Meter State Park (west of Columbia, MO) and Great Spangled Fritillaries at Arrow Rock. Ron Goetz saw several Sachems on 6/27 at Mo. Botanical Garden, a Peck’s Skipper on 6/28 in his garden, and numerous Least Skippers on 6/28 at Route 66 State Park. Dave Berry saw a Monarch laying eggs on milkweed in his garden on 6/29. At Victoria Glade on 6/29, Dennis Bozzay observed many Pipevines, many Juniper Hairstreaks, Silvery Checkerspot, Gorgone Checkerspot, many Wood-Nymphs and 80+ Horace’s Duskywings. That same day at Lower Meramec Park, he saw Snout, Buckeye, Silver-spotted Skipper and Least Skipper. On the last day of the month, 6/30, Kraig Paradise found a Harvester at Spanish Lake Park, always an exciting butterfly. Black Swallowtail caterpillars were seen on the dill and parsley in the Pursifull’s garden in St. Charles. Tom Krauska did not see a single Monarch in his south county garden in June, but he did observe the following butterflies laying eggs: Red Admirals on false nettle, Cabbage Whites on kale, and Black Swallowtails on dill. Great Spangled Fritillaries, Tiger Swallowtails, and Spicebush Swallowtails have been enjoying the expanded butterfly garden at the Noe’s Chesterfield home. Pipevine Swallowtails were laying eggs in Dennis Bozzay’s garden on 6/29 and 6/30. Margaret Gilleo saw Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral and Question Mark in her garden. Send your sightings by the last day of the month to Yvonne Homeyer (homeyer@earthlink.net). An asterisk denotes video or photo of unusual or hard-to-find species. Bold means first report of the season. CONTRIBUTORS: Dianne Benjamin, Torrey Berger, Dave Berry, Dennis Bozzay, Gail Cross, Susan Dees, Ron Goetz, Margaret Gilleo, Chuck Guenther, Jack & Pat Harris, Yvonne Homeyer, Tom "Terrific" Krauska, Dave Larson, Scott & Annie Marshall, Anne McCormack, Jeannie Moe, Bob & Claudia Noe, Kraig Paradise, Mark Peters, Simon and Vickie Pursifull, Mary Eileen Rufkahr, Belle Warden, Margie Warden, Jim Ziebol. 3. FIRST BUTTERFLY SIGHTINGS OF THE YEAR by Yvonne Homeyer As of 06/30/04, there have been 91 species of butterflies reported in the immediate St. Louis area by NABA members. Below are some more first sighting dates, to continue the list from our last newsletter, which ended on 6/17: Gulf Fritillary 6/18 Please continue to report your sightings! (Send to Yvonne at: homeyer@earthlink.net ) 4. NEW BENCH AND ARBOR CONSTRUCTED AT BUSCH The Jim Ziebol Butterfly Garden at Busch Conservation Area is easier to find now than ever. Your eyes will be instantly drawn to the newest feature in the garden - a hand-crafted wooden bench and arbor that was built by dedicated NABA members Dennis Bozzay, Dave Berry and Terry Kelley on Sunday June 13th, 2004. They were assisted by Dennis' neighbor, Bernie Berghager. More visitors (of the human variety) will be attracted to the garden with this new attractive structure, and will now be able to sit on this special bench for viewing butterflies. Pipevine (Aristolochia sp.) will be planted and will eventually cover the arbor with its luxuriant growth, and will provide a shady retreat. So the next time you're at the Butterfly Garden, check out this latest improvement. It's a standout, literally! A color photo (by NABA-St. Louis Public Relations Chairperson, Kate Boden) of the new bench/arbor appears below:
5. PESTICIDE LETTER TO THE EDITOR PUBLISHED The following letter from Margaret Gilleo, NABA-St. Louis Education Chairperson, appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Saturday July 10, 2004: "I noticed that St. Louis County vector control has overridden University City's ban on mosquito spray. This decision is supposedly based on sound scientific judgment. Dragonflies are natural mosquito predators. Until recently, they were welcome and frequent visitors to my yard. When I mentioned my concern about these valuable insectivores, I was told unequivocally by vector control that their spray does not affect dragonflies. I question the scientific judgement of anyone who claims that an insecticide kills only one type of insect. Margaret P. Gilleo 6. AND MORE... NEWSLETTER ARTICLES WELCOME: YOUR CURRENT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: If you have questions or suggestions, e-mail Ann Earley (aee623ATprodigy.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
Suggestions, Corrections and Articles are appreciated.
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