Listedspecies

From: OAP, 26 November 2007,
On 19 November 2007 I hired Steve Katz, a Tree Trimmer, to remove two trees from my yard and some branches overhanging my garage from the neighbors Pin Oak tree. Steve is a first year lep collector, a protégé of Dwayne Badgero. Steve produced several County records this, his first year. Steve has also accompanied me and others on trips to various parts of Michigan. Here are some views of Steve up a tree.

Steve plans to use his skills to place a fermenting fruit bait trap high up in beech trees to attract the elusive
Early Hairstreak (Erora laetus) next spring.

Steve Katz starts his climb up the Pin Oak.
photograph by Owen A. Perkins copyright © 2007

L to R: Steve Katz up about 40+ feet in the Pin Oak and tying off a branch to remove it over the electric wire.
photographs by Owen A. Perkins copyright © 2007

From: Kyle E. Johnson, 23 November 2007,

Field Update from Kyle Johnson (November 3-13)
Here are a few pics from the past few weeks. While many out there are probably thinking “Spring!” I’m motivated for a good long winter! It’s the only time of year to collect good over-wintering data on insects, and nothing’s quite like chasing moths with a good layer of white on the ground.

Sunrise at Crex Meadows in Burnett County in the NW corner of WI (Nov. 3, 2007).
Started the day at 29°F with frost on the tent!
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Nice poor fen (near bog) at Crex Meadows in Burnett County, WI (Nov. 3, 2007).
Temps had risen nearly to 50°F, but a cool breeze kept most things under cover.
I did find a few Acleris oxycoccana (Tortricidae) flying out in the peatland.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Depressariodes ciniflonella (Oecophoridae) found under loose bark of standing
dead jack pine at Crex Meadows in Burnett County, WI (Nov. 3, 2007).
Moths of the family Oecophoridae seem to be the most common leps that hibernate under bark.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Vast sand prairie at Crex Meadows in Burnett County, WI (Nov. 4, 2007).
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Mallard Lake Road Bog in Burnett County, WI (Nov. 4, 2007).
Acleris oxycoccana were out & flying in decent numbers.
Earlier in the day I saw one butterfly (almost certainly Nymphalis vaualbum)
flying near the St. Croix River on the western edge of the county.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Frosty morning north of Jaquet Lake in Florence County the NE corner of WI (Nov. 10, 2007).
[Florence County is just south of Iron & Dickinson Counties in Michigan].
The cold hardy geometrid Operophtera bruceata was out & flying!
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Frost covered peatland north of Jaquet Lake in Florence County, WI (Nov. 10, 2007).
Looks like a good spot for Boloria frigga & Erebia discoidalis come spring
(the latter would be a county record).
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Bog birch (Betula pumila) laced with frost at the above peatland (Nov. 10, 2007)
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

The cold hardy late fall/early winter geometrid Operophtera bruceata resting on leaves
East of Jaquet Lake in Florence County, WI (Nov. 10, 2007)
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Northern sugar maple dominated forest with scattered balsam fir, birch, and white spruce.
Operophtera bruceata were flying everywhere in such habitats
(sugar maple is probably a favorite host).
A few hints of snow remain on the ground frost a recent snow shower.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

View of the Grandma Lake Bog in Florence County, WI (Nov. 10, 2007).
A little too cold here for Acleris oxycoccana to be flying about (the lake itself was iced over!).
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Mating pair of the geometrid Operophtera bruceata in sugar maple stand
along the MacArthur Pine Road in Forest County (S of Iron County, MI)
in northern Wisconsin (Nov. 11, 2007).
The females of this species (and several other late/early season specialists) are wingless.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

ALSO, the previous evening I vouchered a male OUT AND FLYING WHEN IT WAS SNOWING!!!

View of the MacArthur Pine Bog in Forest County, WI (Nov. 11, 2007).
Temperatures here soared into the mid 40’s,
and Acleris oxycoccana were indeed active in good numbers.
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

Quincy Bluff Preserve in Adams County in central Wisconsin (Nov. 13, 2007). Finds here include a gelechiid moth under bark, Acleris oxycoccana in an adjacent peatland (Co. record), many O. bruceata at UV light later on, and a lone Eupsilia vinulenta at bait (plus missed a small geo!).
photograph by Kyle E. Johnson copyright © 2007

And don’t forget to “THINK WINTER!!!”

From: OAP, 19 November 2007,

This data provided by Owen A. Perkins in the DECEMBER 2007 file is a current (17 November 2007) update for the information in:
MICHIGAN BUTTERFLIES & SKIPPERS A Field Guide and Reference, Mogens C. Nielsen, 1999.
I have not updated the County Records for years prior to 2007 except those that came to my attention when recording data while placing MLS Bar-code tags on private and museum specimens or by communication with collectors.

If you have EARLY or LATE dates for Michigan species that provide updates to the information in MO's book or the information supplied here, I would appreciate receiving such information for the Michigan Lepidoptera Survey (MLS) secondary data base that I maintain for Michigan Entomological Society MLS.

GO TO THE DECEMBER 2007 FILE to see the information!

From: OAP, 09 November 2007.

The Monarch Journey South for 2007:

From prior to August 30 to October 31, the migration of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).

THINK SPRING!
When the Monarchs return and we will be in the fields, woods, bogs and gardens again.

From: Steve Katz, 03 November 2007,
My email for shirts, magnets, printing, etc. is:
steve@tyclothing.com
Again my # is 248-872-9504 if I don't answer, leave a message and I'll call back as soon as possible.

From: Steve Katz, 03 November 2007,

I just wanted to let you all know I am in the process of making up some Michigan Lepidoptera Survey T-shirts, and long sleeve shirts, as well as some bumper stickers and other special orders people might like. I can do window graphics, magnetic signs.

Please pass on the word if you can. I’m trying to set up my Graphics Company.

I can do any color just had an over abundance of black shirts and I know if people buy, they will want lighter colors for summer surveying.

T-shirts will be $12.00, and long sleeve shirts will be $15.00. All other prices will be available very soon

My address is
396 Maple Lane
Oakland MI 48363
My phone is 248-872-9504, Any questions or request, please call me 248-872-9504.

Sample T-Shirt in black and white.

From: Roger Kuhlman, 01 November 2007,
Good numbers of butterflies were out on the last two days of October (30 and 31). On October 30 I had 5 species at Crosswinds Marsh in southwest Wayne County. Most of them were expected species--Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Alfalfa Butterfly (Colias eurytheme), and Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)--but I also saw one American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) and four Buckeyes (Junonia coenia). On October 31 I had 5 species on Sharon Valley Road state game lands and Leonard Preserve near Manchester in southwest Washtenaw county. Again Clouded Sulphur and Alfalfa Butterfly were present but they were joined by a Cabbage White, two Buckeyes and a Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis). The Checkered Skipper, at Leonard Preserve, was a new record late sighting for the Greater Washtenaw County Survey and caps a magnificent year for the butterfly in our area.

Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis), 31 October 2007, Leonard Preserve
near Manchester in southwest Washtenaw county.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Clouded Sulphur (Colias sp. alba), 31 October 2007, Leonard Preserve
near Manchester in southwest Washtenaw county.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

Buckeye (Junonia coenia), 31 October 2007, Leonard Preserve
near Manchester in southwest Washtenaw county.
photograph by Roger Kuhlman copyright © 2007

An outstanding total of 59 Checkered Skippers were recorded for the survey this year. To put this result in context the previous record total for a season was six Checkered Skippers last year 2006 and between 1996 and 2003 not a single Checkered Skipper was sighted for the survey.

My opinion regarding late Vanessas is that all (cardui, virginiensis, and atalanta) can and have been found in late October and early November in southeast Michigan. Vanessas are tough butterflies that can weather coolish or even cold temperatures. All three migrate south in the fall and could be still migrating late in the season. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) might even try to and succeed in overwintering in our area--in 1998 I had my first Red Admiral April 5. In recent years Painted Ladies have been the most common Vanessa in fall but this year each Vanessa species has been relatively common. On October 4 I experienced a massive Red Admiral migration at Petersburg State Game Area in western Monroe County when I found 142 Admirals for the day. Virtually all of them were seen nectaring on Blue Aster. One week later at Petersburg SGA I only found two Red Admirals.

ALERT UPDATE