Monday, March 5, 2012

New butterfly species to our county? YES!!

Falcade orangetip (Anthocharis midea)

So awhile ago, I took a break after lunch and went outside with my gardening bucket, filled with gloves and tools. I was pruning the mountain sage when I happened to spot this moth. Or was it a butterfly? It didn't seem like it planned to fly off so I ran in the house and got my camera. A bit of research later, I turned up the likely butterfly species(above), which would be new to Blanco County, according to the species checklist at Butterflies and Moths of North America

I've got an inquiry into Bugguide.net and also a submission to Butterflies and Moths of North America (Record 700142). Isn't it pretty? I'd never seen one before.

UPDATE: I nailed the ID! Check out my image at Bugguide.net.  

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2012
Bluestem commented yesterday and directed me to a website run by the Dallas County Lepidopterists Society. I hadn't visited there in a while. He said this species is new to him, too. Click on "Butterflies of Dallas County," and search for falcate orange-tip (Anthocharis midea texana) under the subfamily Whites.

* * *

UPDATE APRIL 16, 2012-Email from Butterflies and Moths of North America

Sherylsr,
Thank you again for your submission of Record 700142 to the Butterflies and Moths of North America database on March 5, 2012.

Your sighting has been accepted, and your regional coordinator has verified your submission as Anthocharis midea. Your sighting is now represented on the map on the species page: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anthocharis-midea  The sighting details page is available here: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/700142

Notes from the coordinator who reviewed this record (if any): Great find!



6 comments:

Lucy Abbott said...

Very Exciting! I love it! It always amazes me what you will find when you look closely! You hit the jack pot!

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

Exciting, YES, you've got the right word!!! :-)

CWPickens said...

Very cool! Do you think your sighting is drought related?

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

Hmmm. Good question! I don't know! I'm waiting for confirmation from BMNA on my sighting.

Michael - Plano Prairie Garden said...

That is a new butterfly to me. I checked the Dallas County Lepidopterists Society website and they have been spotted in this area. Here is a link to their website: http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/ I would give you a direct link to a page with photos and host plants, but the URL does not change. If you click on Butterflies of Dallas County in the links on left margin, you can find your butterfly listed about halfway down the page under the Whites subfamily. It will be interesting if you have a new sighting for your county.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

Hey thanks a bunch! I'll write an update and add the link. I hadn't visited that website in a while. Thanks for reminding me! Stay tuned!

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