Odiorne Point State Park Bioblitz (16 species of butterflies with Harverster caterpillar and WHITE M HAIRSTREAK)

[Steve Mirick]

Jane and I helped out with the Odiorne Point State Park Bioblitz
yesterday.  This was the 23rd year for this annual event and we've made
it every year except one.   The event is run by the Seacoast Science
Center and the goal is to try to record as many species of living
organisms in the park in one day.  The purpose is to educate the public
and to expose people to the different organisms that can be found in
such a small area.  There were experts in the field all day and short
field trips every hour during the day.

The last few years have had dismal weather for insects, but thankfully,
for the first time in about 4 years, we had SUN!!!  (for better or worse
considering the existing drought!)  Thanks to help from other insect
fanatics including Jason Lambert, Jacqui Shuster, Robyn Prieto, Ben
Griffith, and David Blezard.

Butterflies - 16 species
-------------------------------
This has been a relatively poor summer and fall for butterflies, so the
total of 16 species was certainly a wonderful surprise and exceeded my
expectations.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2025-09-14&taxon_id=47224&user_id=stevemirick&verifiable=any
Least Skipper - 2
ZABULON SKIPPER - Perhaps 4 or 5.  Given that we had poor weather the
last 3 years for this event, this represents a first (I think) for the
Bioblitz.  Getting late.  Amazing how fast this species has gone from
"Holy Cow a Zabulon" to "Ho hum, another Zabulon"!  🙂
American Copper - 1
HARVESTER - Beautiful caterpillar in the alder swamp with wooly alder
aphids.  Only my 2nd caterpillar of this species.  Thanks (once again)
to Jason's excellent eyes.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990522
Summer Azure - 2
WHITE M HAIRSTREAK - Southern vagrants have been scarce this fall, so
this was definitely the butterfly highlight of the day and a lifer for
Robyn!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990525
Gray Hairstreak - 1 (not seen by our group, but nicely photographed)
Monarch - Common, but not migrating.  Not counted, but I'd say about 12.
Great Spangled Fritillary - 1
Pearl Crescent - 4
Mourning Cloak - 2
Red Admiral - 1
American Lady - 1
Black Swallowtail - 1
Clouded Sulphur - 2
Cabbage White - Common


Moths
---------
Banded Tussock Moth
Hickory Tussock Moth
Pale Beauty
Wavy-lined Emerald - CATERPILLAR.  Thanks to Jacqui's incredible eyes!
RUBBED DART - 2nd State record in iNaturalist.  Appears to be strictly a
coastal species in New England.
Arcigera Flower Moth
CHENOPODIUM SCYTHRIS  MOTH - Apparently a non-native moth. Widespread in
northeast, but appears to be a first iNaturalist record for New Hampshire.
Isabella Tiger Moth ("Wooly Bear") - ZERO!!!  Incredible not to see one
this year.  Apparently not reported by any groups.  What does that
predict about the upcoming winter weather!?  🙂


Damselflies & Dragonflies (9 species)
--------------------------------------------------
Fairly ordinary list of odonates for the day, but nice to photograph a
perched Green-striped Darner:
Spotted Spreadwing
Slender Spreadwing
Familiar Bluet
Eastern Forktail
Green-striped Darner
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990538
Common Green Darner
Wandering Glider
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Autumn Meadowhawk


Flower Flies (syprhids) (6 species)
---------------------------------------------
Not all that many syrphids despite some nice fields of goldenrod.
Common Drone Fly
Black-shouldered Drone Fly
Common Lagoon Fly
Eastern Calligrapher Fly
Margined Calligrapher Fly
MAIZE CALLIGRAPHER FLY - Fairly common generally, but I've not seen many
as it seems to be rare along the NH seacoast.  This is a first
iNaturalist record for Odiorne and a beauty!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990591


Robber Flies (3 species)
-------------------------------
Some of you know that Mike Thomas has gotten me interested in Robber
Flies.  He is one of the United States authorities on this family. I was
very happy to get 3 species for the day as they tend to wind down by
September.
Efferia aestuans (Northeastern Hammertail) - 1 female that landed on
David Blezard and tried to lay eggs on him!  This is the most commonly
reported species in the U.S. but it's getting late and this is my latest
record.
Machimus sadyates (Shiny-sided Bladetail) - At least 3 and possibly 3
others.  Including one that landed on Jacqui!  This is the most likely
Robber Fly at this date and location.
NEOMOCHTHERUS PICEUS - This is a rarely reported species in the eastern
US and considered uncommon.  Jane and I have had exceptional luck with
it, however, in southeastern NH and especially near Frost Point at
Odiorne.  We hadn't seen it in the last couple of weeks and thought it
was done for the year.  We were wrong!  This individual was a female and
appeared to be trying to lay eggs in the broken off branch of staghorn
sumac.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990533


Other fauna of interest
-------------------------------
Arrow-shaped Orbweaver spider - A first iNaturalist record for Odiorne.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/313990491


Steve Mirick (for group)
Bradford, MA

[Patricia Wood]

WOW! Thank you to you, Steve, Jane and your team!
Best,
Patti Wood
Exeter

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NHButterfly" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nhbutterfly...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbutterfly/2ed2b5d0-710a-47e2-ace4-7617c02749c3%40comcast.net.