ST CROIX VALLEY: BUTTERFLY FIELD TRIP
Butterfly Hunts
Bob Marquis, noted botanist, biologist, and insect expert, leads us for a second year as we conduct a butterfly survey of Alexander oak savanna. Our goal is to add to the known list of the butterfly species that occur at Alexander.
Photo credit: Eric Preston
Date: August 8 (Saturday)
Time: 10am – Noon
Novices and experts are all welcome. Bring a butterfly/insect net if you have one. 1-3 hours.
Directions: Take highway 35 south towards River Falls.
Take highway 65 south (35 turns into 65) toward Ellsworth.
Gravel road entrance is on the right just after the Town of River Falls town hall.
List so far …
Butterflies
| Latin Name | Common Name | Count |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Northern Crescent | 20+ |
| blues (Lycaenidae) | Eastern Tailed-blue | 2 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Northern Pearly Eye | 2 |
| whites and sulfurs (Pieridae) | Orange Sulfur | 1 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Monarch | 5 adults, 23 caterpillars on the common milkweed |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Great Spangled Fritillary | 7 |
| brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) | Meadow Fritillary | 1 |
| swallowtails (Papilionidae) | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | 2 |
| skippers (Hesperiidae) | Silver-spotted Skipper | 1 adult, 1 caterpillar on hog peanut |
| swallowtails (Papilionidae) | Black Swallow | 1 caterpillar on wild parsnip |
Moths
| Latin Name | Common Name | Count |
| geometer moths (Geometridae) | Chickweed Geometer | numerous |
| Halyisdota tessellaris tiger moths (Erebidae) |
Banded Tussock Moth | 2 caterpillars |
| Euchaetes egle): (tiger moths (Erebidae) | Milkweed Tiger Moth | 2 caterpillars |