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Journal of The Lepidopterists' Society
Volume 24 1970 Number 1
NEW RECORDS FOR NEW JERSEY WITH NOTES OF OTHER SCARCE CAPTURES IN 1967
Joseph Muller R.D. #1, Lebanon, New Jersey
Extensive aerial spraying against gypsy moths and mosquitoes, as well as air pollution may have been instrumental in an apparent sharp decline of Lepidoptera and most other orders of insects in New Jersey during 1968. Hundreds of blooming milkweed (Asclepias) did not attract a single butterfly in Cape May. Just as poor was blacklight and bait collecting in different localities in the State. Many larvae, not accepting their favorite food, died. This, my poorest collecting season in 25 years, induced me to write this paper.
In 1967, fourteen species not previously taken by the author in New Jersey were collected; these included seven species new for the State. Following is an annotated list of the most interesting captures.
Satyridae
Euptychia mitchellii (French). A series was collected near Newton, July 13-19. These dates are a few days later than in previous years. Though similar habitats have been investigated in northern New Jersey, no other colony has been discovered.
Lethe eurydice eurydice (Johanson). A few years ago F. Rutkowski discovered this species in a wet meadow near Newton. This season a series was collected by Rutkowski and the author, July 13-19. Individuals from this population are pale, with eyespots small and the postmedian band on the underside serrate and irregular. About a mile from this meadow is a wooded swamp where the darker subspecies, L. e. appalachia Chermock, flies. This subspecies has darker upper- and undersides, larger eyespots, and a rounded instead of serrate and irregular postmedian band on the underside. Each subspecies seems to be limited
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
to its own slightly different habitat. The latter subspecies has not
previously been reported from the State.
Cercyonis pegala alope, form "maritima" (Edwards). Lakehurst, July 4.
Lycaenidae
Euristrymon Ontario Ontario (Edwards). To my knowledge not more than six E. Ontario had been collected in New Jersey before 1967. After the discovery of a new area at Lakehurst with dogbane (Apocynum) in bloom, 17 specimens were caught on July 1 and 4 by several collectors. Most of the hairstreaks were netted on dogbane, although milkweed (Asclepias) was plentiful. This area is surrounded by several species of oak (Quercus), wild cherry (Primus), and crab apple (Crataegus). In the hope of obtaining eggs, five females of Ontario were kept alive for several weeks, with dogbane flowers and sugarwater provided for food. Although the butterflies were confined with oak, wild cherry, and crab apple, all died without ovipositing.
Satyriurn calanus falacer, ab. "heathii" (Fletcher). In the same meadow where Thymelicus lineola form "pallida" and Euristrymon Ontario were found, one individual of S. c. falacer, ab. "heathif was collected by F. Rutkowski on July 1. This specimen shows a bluish border on the underside of both fore and hindwings. This form has not been reported from New Jersey previously.
Satyriurn liparops strigosus (Harris). Three individuals with orange-brown patches on the upperside of the forewings were collected at Lakehurst on July 4 by F. Rutkowski and the author. These were netted along the railroad tracks where only a few plants of dogbane were growing. The blossoms attracted mostly S. I. strigosus, while other hairstreaks were scarce.
Lycaena phlaeas americana, ab. "fasciata" Strecker. In a large meadow near Cassville, F. Rutkowski and the author found this species very numerous. One aberrant individual, with elongated spots, was discovered among several hundred which were examined.
Hesperiidae
Thymelicus lineola, form "pallida" Tutt. Although this introduced species is widely distributed throughout New Jersey, the pale form "pallida" was not recorded here before J. B. Ziegler and the author caught eight specimens at Lakehurst on July 1. Four more specimens were taken at the same locality on July 4, and more were seen.