Atalas on NSU campus, October 2009

This gorgeous "freshly minted" atala was photographed by Dr. Joshua Feingold on the campus of Nova Southeastern University, where they self-established themselves a few years ago. It is exciting when we 'plant' a colony, but even more exciting when they arrive on their own to claim a perfect habitat! And the Mezozoic Cycad garden at NSU suits them just fine (if we could convince the PTB not to trim off the palm flowers until they have been pollinated!)

I want to let everyone know that Dr. Feingold will be presenting a free lecture on NSU campus on October 15, 2009, from 10 AM to 11:25 AM, called "Atala Butterflies on the NSU Campus".

The Lifelong Learning Institute, Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, at Nova Southeastern University is located at University Park Plaza, 3424 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33328-2022. It is just south of Nova Southeastern University’s Health Professions Division. Enter at the Pier One entrance on University Drive and continue straight though the parking lot. Park in the area in front of the academic buildings.

The telephone: (954) 262-8471. Email: ilr@nsu.nova.edu Website: www.undergrad.nova.edu/lli

Don't miss this opportunity to see incredible photos of the atala, learn about their history on campus, and maybe catch a glimpse of those iridescent wings as they flutter by!

Atala days are coming to a slow period again, even though it seems that they just got started. I have been very lucky to have Marilyn Griffiths at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden send me atala population data almost every week for the past two years and I am in the process of compiling that information right now. The graphs are very interesting, and regardless of the slow start this year, the atala crash-irruption cycle is holding steady.

And I hope that I'll be seeing you in Hollywood at John Williams Park, Sheridan Oak Forest, on November 28th from 9 AM to noon for a bird & butterfly "Walk on the Wild Side" nature walk! I'll be back again on December 27, same time, same place. This walk is in the middle of the "Christmas Bird Count," which Audubon has been doing for over 100 years....you can track the bird counts across the nation, and plug into a fantastic historical archive while helping scientists monitor bird populations.

We have two more walks scheduled in 2010, so keep your calendars out for more adventure-to-come.

February 13, 2010, we'll be birding in earnest for the Great Backyard Bird Count with Broward Audubon and friends, and posting our results on Cornell University's BirdSource afterwards. YOU can help out with this simple Citizen Science project from your own back yard, too! Just log on to eBird and check it out.

On March 6, 2010, we should be seeing some robins and other early migrants as they make their way northward for breeding season. The butterflies will be enjoying the new spring growth and blooming wildflowers resplendent in Sheridan Oak Forest, too.

Remember to check the North American Butterfly Association website for local happenings in Broward as well! There are great speakers every month, plants for your garden, and lots of community.

http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/ is a wonderful blog abut introducing kids to nature and a great resource for teachers and parents.

See you soon! Happy Full Moon and Simchat Torah :-)

August 2009

Butterfly Days with the Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in July was awesome, as usual, and it was great to meet up with my butterfly friends and colleagues! The lectures were very exciting (and Dr. Lincoln Brower ,who has been studying the Monarch, was especially interesting!) Dr. Charlie Covell was also there, who is one of the researchers who remembers the "assisted relocation" and "hand-rearing" stories of the atala from the 1950's.

This is an amusing story that evolved last year to be resolved just before the conference....One of our NABA members insisted that another members' butterflies were 'brighter' than the ones in his garden and he asked me about it. I, as well as the 'degreed' lepidopterists, assured him that he was probably seeing newly-emerged adults, and that there was probably no reason why butterflies at one location would be brighter than butterflies at another....

At Butterfly Days, I spoke on "Butterfly Migration: Beyond the Monarch." One of the things I do before a lecture is research any new published data. To my surprise, a newly published journal article proved our member's observations about wing brightness to be true! Something none of us really considered before had been discovered: the wing scales of migrating butterflies are thicker than those of non-migrating or resident butterflies....therefore, the color is brighter! The thicker scales are needed to help the butterfly survive not only the flight, but the over-wintering in Mexico, as well. We are always learning something new!

However, it has been a long summer, my friends, otherwise. As many of you now, the position in Manatee County did not work out as planned and I found myself in an unfamilar place without my close friends, my butterfly, or a job. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant "space" to be. More than 150 people lost their jobs in the County during the brief four+ months I was working there, so although I was not alone in this respect, I was without my network back home in Lauderdale, and I have certainly been feeling like a ship without a rudder (or sail!)


A part time position was offered teaching art at a Montessori School in Sarasota and after much very serious thought, I finally decided to stay for a while and accept the position. For those of you who may not know, my first degree is in Fine Art, and I have been producing artwork for a long time....(the second degree is science). And I fully support the Montessori philosophy.


I am also going to be teaching a few non-credit Adult Education classes.The adult education classes are very eclectic; being unemployed (again!) has forced me to fall back on everything I know! I will be teaching Butterfly Gardening (thank you, Janice, President of Broward NABA, for your input on that), and leading "Backyard Birding" trips and "Beach-Bum Walks" to identify the shells, birds, seaweed and stuff that washes up in the rack line. What may be more surprising, is that I will also be teaching Mandala Drawing, Origami, and Astrology (which I was taught back in the 60's!) as well as Hebrew classes for kids, too.....as I said, everything I know how to do is being pulled out of the hat....

In the meantime, I am continuing to accumulate data from all of you on the atala. Some of the colonies are finally coming into a normal irruption cycle, albeit more than a month behind "normal" schedule. Of course, I only have six years of data, and only for Southeast Florida, so whether this is simply a trough in a much bigger cycle that I haven't figured out yet is unknown!
This photo by Dick Freshley shows eight atalas clustered on a small shrub next to the nectar source described below. It is not unusual in an irruption to see twenty or thirty atalas aggregated on vegetation near nectar sources. They do not flush easily, making them a perfect subject for your camera, too. Perhaps because they are poor fliers and "know" that they are toxic, they will sit still while they are being photographed.


An undocumented nectar source for the atala has been recorded and photographed by Dick at Okeeheelee Nature Center, where he is a dedicated volunteer, and where we established a colony several years ago. (And yes, we have had to provide "assisted re-location" a few times.) Dick writes that he must have "hundreds of photographs of the atala" but that he finds them so beautiful that he is "irresistably drawn to taking more." As many of us agree-the atala is just breath-taking. Okeeheelee is one of the sites with "hundreds" at the moment, and he writes that it is a special treat for people to be able to see them.



I imagine that this is what it must have looked like in 1910, when Healey wrote that the atala was the "most conspicuous insect in South Florida." I have tried to film them when they irrupt, but the videos are not very good (I can photograph, but videography is another thing! Especially trying to film something smaller than a quarter!)


The nectar source that Dick recorded is called Clerodendrum ugandense, a beautiful flower from Kenya and Uganda. (Marilyn Griffiths from Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens emailed to tell me that the name has been changed to Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense', so you may want to look for either name. But she also informed that they don't see many butterflies nectaring on it....)You all know how much I love native plants, but I also like nectar sources for butterflies, other insects and hummingbirds. The plant is not listed as invasive, so keep an eye on it, and perhaps, trim the seed heads when they form to prevent them being spread.



This is Dick's photo of the atala on the "Blue Glory" flower, and click this link to learn more about it from the University of Florida website: Clerodendrum uganense.


And if you haven't downloaded your copy of my article "Nectar Sources for Eumaeus atala", you can download here it from Florida Entomologist as well as get an extensive butterfly nectar list at the Imperiled Butterfly Working Group. And there are also many resources to be found at the North American Butterfly Association website, including lists of nectar sources and photographs which myself, and other members, have provided for the website.

In the meantime, stop in to the next meeting of NABA to learn something new, meet new friends, and score some inexpensive native nectar plants!

Happy Days are Here Again!

The good news is that the atalas are back, as of June 10, folks! The reports are still sporadic, but we there are more and more sightings from Palm Beach to Lauderdale. Miami is still lagging behind, unlike years past. Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden gave up waiting and did a little "assisted re-location" with a breeding stock that originated with them years ago. Those individuals did not survive, so another attempt was recently made to 'seed' the colony. I'll let you know how the colony is doing.

There are several sites in North Lauderdale, a few in Palm Beach. Those of us involved with the butterfly are not advertising locations yet so that the colonies are not disturbed by collectors or people eager to "assist" their re-location. As I told one of our helpers, it is difficult to keep any kind of records of what colonies are going where and when....it's good to establish new colonies, but it is very helpful to those of us following it on a scientific level to let someone know. Tell me...or any of our NABA or IBWG people to help us keep tabs on the butterfly! A few new colonies have appeared on their own, too.

Dick Freshley sent the larvae photo...the ovipositing photo is mine....

This is the longest that I've held my breath waiting for the miraculous summer re-appearance!

OK, everyone...BREATHE!

June 2009 Atala Blues & Beautiful Blues

Atala colonies have yet to recover, although there are now slight stirrings of activity in three sites; one in Miami-Dade (not Fairchild, surprisingly!) and two in north Broward. No one is reporting substantial numbers, however. This year’s date of May 29th is the latest date for re-appearance that I have recorded in the past six years; and usually by now we are seeing the butterfly pop up from seemingly “nowhere.” I have had people in the Caribbean ask me, “Where do they go?” I hope to have an answer for that question someday, but at this time we just don’t know where they go!

Friend Dr. Joshua Feingold sent an incredible photograph of three tiny Galapagos Blues, (Leptotes parrhasioides, Wallengren 1860). He captured the underside as well as the brilliant blues topside with this photo. They are nectaring on a flower that is about the same size as Squarestem (Melanthera nivea), a common “weed.”

There are only ten butterfly species in Galapagos; this one may look familiar, because it is very similar to our own “Eastern Pygmy Blue.” The Pygmy is our smallest butterfly and the Galapagos Blue is about the same size…wingspan: 0.5”! It eats a Balloonvine species (Cardiospermum), and fortunately there is plenty of Balloonvine on the islands for the tiny Blue.

Meanwhile, another famous Blue (Morpho peleides) was captured on film by Art Constantino at the UF McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity in Gainesville several years ago and is now adorning the cover of a new book! The Empowerment of Self-Healing by Rod Kelly is a wonderful book about Rod’s journey to health from life-threatening illness. No better symbol for transformation could have been chosen than this brilliant sacred-blue butterfly. Congratulations to Art, and thanks to Rod for writing this book and sharing his wisdom with others seeking spiritual renewal.

On a sadder note for our Beautiful Blues, Paula Cannon has been watching a Miami Blue (Hemiargus thomasi) colony is Bahia Honda for many years. Miami Blues are an Endangered Species, protected by Federal Law. The complication is that to protect any endangered species, whether a polar bear or a butterfly, the habitat wherein it lives must also be protected. We have certainly learned that it is not always possible to protect the environment—we can’t stop the polar bear’s icy habitat from melting because we simply won’t be able to get “green” fast enough to undo the damage.

BUT, we can do something about protecting the habitat of the Miami Blue. It is not a popular choice, though, because the destruction is being caused by another non-native creature introduced by humans…the iguana. The reptile is voracious and devours Nickerbean, the host plant for the Miami Blue’s larvae. They are causing major damage to the environment (as those of you who may have them ravishing your gardens know.) Unfortunately, there is no humane way to deal with the situation: the iguanas have to be destroyed. They are yet another non-native, invasive species, like the pythons that are infesting the Everglades and impacting the ‘livelihood’ of the alligators and other animals there and in Big Cypress.

The Florida Wildlife Commission is doing the best that they can, but like many governmental agencies that have been hit by the same economic downswing, there are simply not enough employees to chase the iguanas and still do the other jobs required. They have captured hundreds, but there are still hundreds destroying the habitat. Paula sent these pictures to show the damage. The photos were taken on May 21, 2009. The damage since January has been extensive. Remember that you can find out a lot about the status of our imperiled and endangered butterflies by visiting the Imperiled Butterfly Working Group website. We post journal articles, status reports, documents and the minutes from our meetings. I have also posted a list of butterfly plants (host and nectar sources) that can be downloaded to help you plant for them.

The good news is that another Blue, the Nickerbean Blue (Hemiargus ammon), which uses Pineland Acacia as the host plant (no, NOT Nickerbean!) This is a rarity, but Paula, and Alana Edwards found the butterfly and Paula gave me permission to post this great photo of the Nickerbean Blue, too. Thanks, Paula!

I had a very short but sweet reunion with friends when I spoke at the Miami Blue NABA Chapter last month, too. Chris, Paola and Julianna Hernandez came to the presentation; Chris is back at Crandon Park and afterwards we walked through the hammock at Castellow. It took all of us several tries, but we finally captured one of the many Florida Whites (Appias Drusilla) flitting around in the forest! Julianna was delighted with our excursion and thought that Gumbo Limbo was a fun tree to touch.

I stopped in Lauderdale for a day and did some business, but managed to play a little bit. I chose to take Loop Road so I could do some birding (Sweetwater Slough was bone dry, though!) But I did come across this interesting mixed-flock bird-convention, consisting of Woodstorks, American Egrets, and Black and Turkey Vultures, in the middle of nowhere.

Dick Freshly sent this awesome photo of a newly emerged Zebra Heliconian. Although I have tons of Passion vine in my yard, I don’t see Gulf Fritillaries or Zebras here….the Monarchs have discovered the Milkweed, though.

The Gulf Fritillaries have discovered the corky stem passion vine hiding in the grass that grows along side State Road 41 in downtown Bradenton, though. It is a miracle, truly, that these insects can find a cluster of passion vine nestled amongst the litter in a sand-and-grass median strip along a major highway, but that is what they do.

I saw this saying on a button somewhere: I pledge allegiance to the Earth and the flora, fauna and human Life that it supports, one planet indivisible, with safe air, water and soil, economic justice, equal rights and peace for all. It’s the only home we have while in a physical body, and we are co-creators, so let’s create a beautiful healthy spiritually centered home for all of us!

Happy Full Moon to all~May you be filled with Love and Light!

April 2009--Atala News are the Blues

Atala populations crashed almost completely as of February; I suspect that the unusual cold, the length of the cold fronts, and the drought affected their normal recovery with more impact than did even the four hurricanes in 2004! They were showing some recovery in late March in South Miami-Dade, but by mid-April all signs of life had disappeared in the colonies.

Current reports from Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale indicate zero atalas in any life stage; including the oldest re-introduced colony (which has been viable for five years!) This is the most significant crash I have seen in six years; but some colonies had no activity until early May in past years, so we aren’t completely depressed yet. There was one site reporting some activity on the northern edge of Broward County; to prevent over-enthusiastic collectors from impacting a fragile colony, I am not publishing its location. When the next irruption occurs, I’ll be begging for people to 'steal' pupae to establish new colonies.

I am still trying to figure out how to post a graph on this blog so you can see the general trends over the years, but I guess you’ll just have to attend the next meeting where I’ll be speaking about my favorite butterfly. Crashes are normal, but they aren't usually so severe as to have all colonies at all sites crash simultaneously.

People have been telling me that their coontie plants are either suffering from scale, and/or powdery mildew, or that they are flourishing without herbivorous insects defoliating them. The treatment for either of the mentioned diseases is posted here on the February 2008 blog archive.

Art Constantino also mentioned a thought about possible decreasing Ruddy Daggerwing populations. The Daggerwing uses the Ficus trees as a host plant. People are treating their Ficus trees for “Ficus Whitefly,” and the pesticide is potentially impacting the caterpillars and eggs of the Daggerwing. Likewise, treatment of palm trees for “Lethal Yellowing Disease” also impact the Monk and Palmetto butterflies that use palms as a host plant. It is a tough decision, because if the plant dies, one loses the butterflies that use it anyway; if the plant is treated with a herbicide or pesticide, one loses the butterflies that use it as well. Perhaps the answer is to treat the affected plant and also install a “free and clear” version in another location for the butterflies.
Here on the west coast, I have to say that Manatee County certainly has some of the most beautiful natural areas I have ever seen. These photos were taken in Emerson Point Preserve, one of the natural areas where I work. This is a kayak trip I led through what is affectionately called the "Mangrove Tunnel" by the locals. It is incredible.

And this is a "secret lake" that we visited, which is located inside a mangrove tree-island off Tampa Bay....what a magical place! Much thanks to one of our volunteers, Wayne Douchkoff, for the photographs of our paddle trip at Emerson Preserve.

We have been incredibly busy with programs, establishing trail signs, and rest areas along the miles of trails, monitoring our Bald Eagle family and watching migrations of birds, butterflies and dragonflies. There are two fledgling eagles at Robinson Preserve, and it has been a joy watching them test their new flight skills, play with their food, and gain confidence in their hunting skills. This photo of Mom Eagle is by one of our volunteers, Chris Constantino (perhaps one of Art’s relatives?)

In the near future, we’ll be watching our Scrub Jay colonies out at the prairie Preserves, too. In May, students and professors from the local colleges and universities will be helping out with our third annual Bio-Blitz, this one at Rye Preserve, which is a huge oak hammock with a natural waterway. I will be leading an all-day butterfly-blitz and I am very much looking forward to doing so. This coast has some true diamonds, such as the Tiger and Zebra Swallowtails, rare on the east coast.

I could not resist this photo of one of my back-yard squirrels munching on an orange from my tree. There were plenty to share, although the orange season is about finished now.

The migration movement of the beautiful Great Southern White has slowed down, but now I am seeing Large Orange, Sleepy and Cloudless Sulfurs flying around. (In California, March was the month of Painted-Lady migrations by the millions!) Which brings me to my next point…

I will be speaking at the Sunday, May 3rd meeting of the Miami-Blue Chapter of NABA at Castellow Hammock, in Homestead, at 1 PM. I’ll be presenting, “Butterfly Migration: Beyond the Monarch.” There have been a few new developments in the field of migration research since my presentation last fall for Broward NABA. And I am delighted to be speaking at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden this July for Butterfly Days, too.

I hope my Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade friends come over to visit Manatee County, too. It boasts a virtually intact eco-system that hosts rare species and miles of beautiful hiking, biking and paddling trails. If development greed stays under control, this jewel may be the most sought-after natural resource in Florida. As a Broward friend mentioned, “Wow. Mangrove-lined shores?! What a concept….” And the fishing is still good, as I’ve been told…..

Those of you on the east coast know that the beauty of mangroves has been replaced with concretized seawalls and boat docks. You also know that the fisheries are crashing. What you may not know is that the mangroves provide the nurseries for juvenile fishes….which safely grow up in the tangled roots to be the fish on your plate….you cannot destroy the habitat and still expect the benefits of it.

I could easily get on a soap-box about the value of natural lands, but I know that most everyone who reads my blog is already on the same page, so I will spare you the monologue.

LOVE NATURE.

COUNT BUTTERFLIES AND BIRDS.

PLANT NATIVE.