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Butterfly Bonanza

The federally endangered Karner blue butterfly calls Kitty Todd home. © Tom Kemmerer

The monarch butterfly thrives at Kitty Todd. © Jackie Riley   Common Butterflies to see at Kitty Todd Monarch Tiger Swallowtail Black Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Silver-spotted Skipper Sulfer sp. Viceroy Aphrodite Fritillary Great Spangled Fritillary American Copper Rare Butterflies at Kitty Todd Karner Blue Frosted Elfin Persius Duskywing Silver-bordered Fritillary

Volunteers log variety of species at Kitty Todd Preserve

By Jackie Riley, Ohio Chapter Volunteer

In the spring of 2003, the Kitty Todd Preserve began taking part in a statewide butterfly monitoring program to identify the abundance of Ohio’s rare and common butterflies. Many people believe that some species of butterflies and moths are in danger of disappearing in Ohio or have already disappeared. In fact, ten butterflies are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern in Ohio.

Some reasons for the decline in butterfly numbers include habitat changes and pesticide use. The long-term data obtained from this monitoring research will help to show trends in local butterfly populations across the state.

The Kitty Todd Preserve, within the OakOpenings region, is home to five rare and unusual butterflies. The preserve's diverse and unusual plant species and habitats provide an abundance of butterfly nectar sources such as wild lupine, butterfly milkweed, new jersey tea, dotted horse mint, little bluestem and the rough blazing star.

So it is not surprising that the 2006 volunteer butterly monitoring team recorded an incredible forty species of butterflies, including such precious species as the Frosted Elfin, Edward’s Hairstreak, Leonard’s skipper and Karner blue. 

New Jersey tea was the most popular nectar attraction this year, with its unusually abundant and overflowing white blossoms.  Several hairstreak species - including the rare Edward’s hairstreak - were consistently seen nectaring on these, while Summer Azures were busy oviposting on the flower buds.                                                                     
Later in the season, rough blazing star became the popular nectar source for others – Monarchs (who showed in exceptionally large numbers this year), Spicebush and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Great Spangled and Aphrodite Fritallaries, and Leonard’s and migrant Fiery skippers. 

Almost too difficult to count, because of their shear numbers, were the Little Wood Satyrs and Eastern Tailed Blue butterflies.                                                                                                                                                                                           Yet as these species prospered, there were others that did not fair as well as they have in recent years.  Atypical weather conditions were primarily to blame, starting with a lack of rainfall in the early summer of 2005 and little snow cover during the warm winter.  Then, early and very warm spring temperatures in 2006 – which were quickly followed by a cold spell –contributed to diminished populations of the Karner blue butterfly.  June and July of 2006 saw unusually prolonged periods of rainfall, which submerged larval host plants for some time.   

The results of the Kitty Todd butterfly monitoring will be sent on to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for tabulation and compilation. Long-term data collected from these habitats will provide insight into colonization and extinction, migration patterns, and the overall health of Ohio ’s butterflies.

Thanks to all the dedicate volunteers who helped to make this year’s butterfly monitoring program a success!  If you’re interested in joining their team, please visit our volunteer page and find out how you can get involved.