Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order LEPIDOPTERA

PLEBEJINAE
The most common Blues occurring at Cedar Creek are the Eastern Tailed Blue, Everes comyntas (Lespedeza) and the Spring Azure, Celastrina ladon  =argiolus (Spiraea, Cornus+). The Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Lathyrus) is infrequently encountered. The Karner Blue, Lycaiedes melissa-samuelis (Lupinus) was last observed in 1983, but is now apparently extirpated.
**The Western Tailed Blue, Everes amyntula, may eventually be collected, as it occurs nearby.  Hemiargusisola collected at Gray Cloud Dunes, Washington Co.

THECLINAE
By far, the most abundant Hairstreak is Edward's Hairstreak, Satyrium edwardsii (Bur Oak). It occurs abundantly in savanna and on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in July. The Coral Hairstreak, Harkenclenus titus (Prunus) is less common. The Banded Hairstreak, Satyrium falacer (Quercus) and the Acadian Hairstreak, Satyrium acadica (Salix) are only infrequently encountered, but their presence may be obscured by the abundant S. edwardsii. Other species infrequently seen are the Olive hairstreak, Mitoura gryneus (Red Cedar), and the Gray Hairstreak, Strymon melinus (Polygonum, Hypericum+). Two uncommon elfins occur in late spring. The Brown Elfin, Incisalia augustus (Vaccinium) occurs on Beckman Lake Bog in early May; and Henry's Elfin, Incisalia henrici (blueberry) occurs in open woods during this same period. The Harvester, Feniseca tarquinius (predator on woolly aphids on alder) is uncommon.

LYCAENINAE
The most commonly encounted Copper is the American Copper, Lycaena phloeas americana (Rumex). It occurs in weedy old fields. The Purplish Copper, Epidemia helloides (Polygonum) is common in wet meadows and frequents flowers such as Aster umbellatus. The Bronz Copper, Lycaena hyllus (Rumex) is infrequently encountered in marshes. The Bog copper, Epidemia epixanthe (cranberry) occurs on Beckman Lake Bog in late June.