Some other “on the wing” critters…
Buckeye Butterfly
I love birds. There is no other way to describe how I feel about the diversity of bird life in Nebraska, and the time that I spend looking for them, at them, and sharing that experience with others. But the longer I live and the more I observe other things, the more amazed and interested I have become in bugs. Yes bugs. And July and August are among the best months of the year to observe these other winged critters.
Mention the word “bugs” to most citizens of Nebraska and the first thing on their minds are mosquitoes, biting flies, stinging bees, creepy spiders and those gnats, ticks, chiggers and all the other not-so-lovely critters that can make outdoor experiences not so enjoyable. Fortunately most naturalists and children do not share that view of bugs and they will take some time to look and listen to some of our invertebrate fauna. My two youngest children (ages five and seven) still have innate interest in almost anything that crawls or flies by, which feeds the naturalist in me, allows me to discover things that even I haven’t seen before, and relive my childhood experiences to some degree.
There are literally thousands of insect species in Nebraska, many of which are not anyone’s favorite and most of them go unnoticed and overlooked. However most people will still notice a few groups including butterflies, moths, dragonflies, damselflies and beetles. And there are some real beauties in each of these groups, not to mention some great diversity.
There are at least 205 species of butterflies that have been documented in Nebraska. Some of our largest butterflies are the most recognized, like the monarch and tiger swallowtail, but many others are just as beautiful, but often on a smaller scale. Among my favorites are the regal fritillary, buckeye and the tiny little juniper hairstreak.
There are also 35 species of damselflies (often mistaken for dragonflies) and 46 species of dragonflies that most people see along lakes, rivers and streams throughout the state. My favorites of these two groups are the ebony jewelwing, American rubyspot, green darner, widow skimmer and black saddlebags.
On several occasions in the past, I have turned kids (from six to fourteen years of age) loose with butterfly nets and asked them to capture butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies. While it would make outstanding YouTube video, it is also a very enjoyable, rewarding and educational experience for all involved, myself included.
There are also 144 species of moths, most of which are drab, boring and annoying when they are attracted to your porch light, get into your home and fly around the house bouncing off of walls and lights and freaking out your house guests and pets. But anyone that has seen a luna moth, a cecropia or their relatives (large colorful moths often mistaken for butterflies) knows that they were treated to see a beautiful and unique sight. And anyone that has a flower garden has undoubtedly noticed the “Sphinx moths” (or hummingbird moths) that feed on the flowers and literally act like hummingbirds. Some of these a adorned with shades of pink, orange and yellow and can be quite striking, including the “clearwings” that have see through wings.
Beetles should not be ignored this month either. There are at least 30 species of tiger beetles (predatory beetles found in relatively open landscapes including grasslands and wetlands and often on city sidewalks), some of which are quite striking with emaculate wing color patterns. There are 18 species of carrion beetles in the state, including the endangered American burying beetle (ABB) and other relatives. Aside from the “ABB”, my favorite would be Nicrophorus tomentosus (no common name), which with its “yellow fuzz” and black and orange pattern mimics a bumble bee quite well in flight. Be thankful for these critters as they are “nature’s cleaning crew” and help clean up dead animals in nature.
One of the most diverse groups is the “scarabs” of which there are more than 250 species in the state. This includes the “june bugs” (which start coming out in May), dung beetles (again be thankful for those) and many other beetles with similar appearance. Most of these are fairly small and drably colored, but there are exceptions to every rule and one of my favorites is the “rainbow scarab” which looks way too pretty to be a dung beetle. This species, along with others in this group, has a large “horn” on its head (on the males) that is apparently used to attract mates and fend off other males. Another favorite is one of the common dung beetles, kind of iridescent in coloration, looking black to green to purple in proper light. This species takes little balls of “dung” and rolls them away to be buried, typically in prairie areas. Often you can observe battles for the little ball and you can think to yourself, “all of that work and fuss over a little ball of …”, but considering that they raise their young on that little ball, it makes all of the effort worth it.
And now that the “dog days of summer” are upon us, we can not forget about the very vocal cicadas, often heard “buzzing” in trees at this time of year. Cicadas are sometimes incorrectly and locally referred to as “locusts” (which are actually grasshoppers). A plague of cicadas wouldn’t have been that scary, even in biblical times, although it would have been very annoying to listen to.
Bottom line is take some time to relive your youth, don’t be afraid to look and listen to a bug now and then, and take some time to enjoy even more of the diversity of the great State of Nebraska.
T.J. Walker
District Manager, Wildlife Division – Partners Section
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
North Platte
About the Chicken Dance Trail
The Chicken Dance Trail is actually a collection of great bird watching locations in southwest and south central Nebraska, between the Platte and Republican Rivers. Because the area includes the narrowest section of the hourglass-shaped Central Flyway, the Chicken Dance Trail is uniquely situated for birders. Millions of different birds come through here during spring and fall migrations, making the Chicken Dance Trail one of the best places in the country to see a wide variety of species in a relatively small area.
Our bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and birding experts and are collected into a series of bird watching “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful birding links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Our wildlife and bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and are collected into a series of “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Come and visit and learn why we say, “Birds love this part of Nebraska...and you will too!”
Special Thanks to:
Nebraska Game and Parks, Birds of Nebraska
www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/birds/findbirds.asp