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Counting: Flying Jewels
It's the 27th year for an American tradition.

STORY BY WILLIAM MCCLAIN
PHOTOS BY ADELE HODDE

The hat of 10-year-old Allison Scroggin was a clue as to what was about to take place. It was decorated with butterflies.

Allison was among the 15 people congregated in the parking lot at Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve south of Easton in Mason County last July. Some held clipboards and pencils, while others held either one or two pocket-sized books. Weather conditions were good as it wasn't windy and no rain was in the lorecust. In a matter of minutes, everyone was hiking through loess hill prairie, shouting names to a person holding a clipboard. Snout! Pearl crescent! Viceroy! Hackberry! The annual butterfly count was underway!

Butterfly counts began in the United States in 1975, when only 29 counts were conducted. By the year 2000, the number of counts had increased to 421 in 44 states, three Mexican states and five Canadian provinces.

Yes, butterflies are counted annually, much like waterfowl, nesting song birds and upland game. Each year, the date of the event is centered around July 4 on selected sites that occur with in a 15-mile-diameter count circle. The information that is obtained is used to determine species distribution and population sizes.

On this particular count, the number of adult, live butterflies was counted by species at Revis, Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak and Long Branch nature preserves in Mason County. In most cases, census workers had to be able to identify individual butterfly species on sight.

The selection of these areas as census sites was not an arbitrary decision.



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Census takers are assigned areas

Besides" being known for their diverse butterfly populations, the sites also have a large number of plant species, Many butterflies, like other insects, depend upon a specific host plant for food during their larval stages. The host plant for the zebra swallowtail is paw paw, snout caterpillars prefer hackberry leaves, Ottoe skipper larvae eat little bluestem grass, and the Creole pearly eye dines exclusively on giant cane.

The relationship between the caterpillars and the host plant is sometimes so strong that the caterpillars will starve to death before they will eat anything else. Other butterflies, like the painted lady, aren't so particular. The larva of this butterfly is known to feed on more than 100 plant species!

By noon, the count at Revis was completed, and people gathered in the parking lot to compare notes.

"I saw a great spangled fritillary and a wood satyr," said one person.

Others saw zebra swallowtails and summer azures, but it was the day of the pearl crescents. Overall, it had not been a good count at Revis. Only a few butterfly species were observed, as compared to counts in the recent past when as many as 35 species were seen. But the biggest concern, was that there were very few skippers.

Skippers are known for their club-shaped antennae that have curved or hook-shaped ends. The larve of skippers tend to be specific to one or a host plants. Although six skipper species were observed, there was only one Ottoe skipper, compared to hundreds in the past. Just as everyone was preparing to leave, a single dusky-winged skipper flew into the parking lot and landed near the feet of one of the workers.

"I guess it is letting us know that there are still a few left here," someone said.

But there may not be any Arogos skippers left at Revis. Although diligent searches have been made for this insect, none has been seen for six years. The reasons for its disapppearance are not completely known.

Then it was on to Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak on the western side of Mason County. This sand prairie contains cacti and other plants typical of the western states. The different flora would mean different butterfly species. Once everyone was in the sand prairie, they were soon shouting: "Grayling! Regal fritillary! American lady! Question mark! Monarch!"

"What is this one?" someone asked.

"I would guess it is an ETB," came the reply.

So, what is an ETB? It is an eastern tailed blue, a small butterfly found in prairie communities. Everyone raised their heads when someone shouted that there was a painted lady near the milk-


Consistent butterfly count allow biologists to track short- and long-term population trends and note any significant population changes that might indicate a serious environmental problem.

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Census takers follow a standard protocol to attain an accurate snapshot of the butterfly population.

Schedule of Illinois Butterfly Counts

Butterfly enthusiasts interested in participating in the following counts should contact these individuals:
• June 28, Beardstown, coordinator: Angella Moorehouse, email: amoore house@dnrmail.state.il.us.

• June 29, Revis Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, contact Susan Dees, email: susandees@yahoo.com.

• July 1, Shawnee Hills Butterfly Count, coordinator is Kathy Phelps, email: deecee@midwest.net. Phone: (618)252-7311.

• July 4, Green River Wildlife Area, contact Cynthia McKee, email: cmckee@theramp.net.

• July 13, greater Peoria area. Tracy Fox, coordinator, email: tracyfox® mtco.com.

• July 14, at the home of the Day family near Forbes State Park. Contact Richard Day, email: office@day break.com or phone (618) 547-3522.

• August 24, Horseshoe Lake, Jim Ziebol, coordinator, email: homeyer® earthlink.net.

For the latest information on butterfly counts in other areas visit www.naba.org.

weeds if anyone wanted to look. Some people moved quickly in that direction, only to be startled when a wild turkey flushed from the knee-high grass. After seeing the painted lady, everyone began to think about Long Branch, the final stop.

This preserve always has been known as the best site for regal fritillaries, a large, fast-flying butterfly whose host plant is the Bird's Foot Violet or an annual violet species known as Johnny Jump Ups.

Although 231 regal fritillaries were counted at Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak and Long Branch, the annual census data for the nation indicates that this spectacular butterfly is becoming scarce. It no longer occurs in Indiana and is rare in northern Illinois.

Soon, the sun was sinking low on the horizon, and it was time to turn in , the tally sheets. The results of the count would be sent to the North American Butterfly Association to be included in the total count for the nation. During the day, 855 butterflies representing 41 different species were counted, including a spectacular zebra swallowtail, one of the largest butterflies in Illinois.

As the tally sheets were turned in to the compiler, everyone said they would like to help again the following year. And, it is easy to understand why people are fascinated with butterflies. With names like viceroy, admiral, American painted lady and goatweed, their names are just as colorful as the insects themselves. People also admire and perhaps envy the way butterflies are free to fly about the colorful flowers, of the prairies and woodlands.

It was not good news to learn that-some butterflies are declining in numbers.

Knowing that many butterfly species are dependent upon specific host plants, it is understandable why some are no very rare or even extirpated from the state. Many prairie sites continue to shrink in size, which means the loss of many of the host plants that the butterflies depend upon for food. Keeping our butterfly populations healthy also means maintaining our prairies, wetlands and woodlands.

The year 2001 represented the eighth annual butterfly count for three prairie sites. Counts also were conducted at Beardstown, Peoria adn North Park Village, and in LaSalle and McDonough counties and Shawnee Hills.

On your next outing, consider investigating the colorful world of flying jewels. It will prove to be most rewarding experience. And who knows? You may discover a comma, question mark, dogface, or even a frosted elfin.

William McClain is the Natural Areas Stewardship Program manager in DNR's Division of Natural Heritage.

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