[ncsc-moths] Re: New Moths For NC ?
- From: Jackie Nelson <ephemeropterae@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: ncsc-moths@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:54:07 -0400
Parker, excellent post. Regarding a repository for all the mothing
information collected by pros and hobbyists, it's scattered across many
databases, including Bug Guide, MPG, County, etc.
I'm in the process of entering confirmed moths into NRID - NCs State Parks'
biological inventory database. http://149.168.1.196/Checklist/find.php
The moth checklist is incomplete, and you can only count moths found on park
property.
Is there a Lepidopterist Society or somesuch? A singular authority on moths
(range, rarity, etc) would be nice.
Jackie
NW N.Carolina/S. Appalachians
On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 7:49 PM, parker backstrom <
dpbackstrom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi, Paul.****
>
> ** **
>
> As Merrill can attest to, and I, to a lesser extent, mothing with Bo is a
> blast. The guy has forgotten more than I’ll ever learn, I’m sure!****
>
> ** **
>
> I was quite surprised to read that Norape ovina and Leptostales
> rubromarginaria are thought to have not been recorded in NC until now. I
> have had at least four encounters with N. ovina (including three this
> summer). I don’t recall how many encounters I’ve had with L.
> rubromarginaria as it’s been a couple/three years since I’ve last seen it.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> I think this illustrates very well how challenging it is to gain an
> understanding of the moths of a given state, especially one as diverse as
> North Carolina. There are a growing number of increasingly skilled moth
> observers scattered across the state, but finding a given moth in a given
> location on a given date sheds no real light onto the bigger picture having
> to do with that taxon. I have had several discussions with both Bo Sullivan
> and Steve Hall about what constitutes a “rare” moth in this state, which
> moths to report, which to collect, and I can’t say I’m much clearer on the
> subject today than I was before. Sure, there is a select list of taxa that
> I’m “keeping my eye out for,” but what about all the other “rare” moths that
> never came up in the discussions? The “rare” designation, of course, is a
> relative one to a great extent. Certainly some taxa are known or thought to
> be rare in a location based upon a body of work put in by a given individual
> in that location. There are regional considerations also. What’s rare in
> Watauga County might not be rare in Chatham County, for example. More to
> the point for this discussion, what any of us might not consider/know is
> rare (for lack of any contextual understanding) might indeed be rare (see N.
> ovina as case in point). Never when I saw this taxon did it occur to me
> that it might be rare in NC. Why did I make this assumption? Why would I
> NOT have? That’s my point.****
>
> ** **
>
> In short, knowing what is worth reporting and what is not is a real
> challenge. Given the paucity of context or understanding it seems almost
> certain that one or more taxa seen or photographed by one or more of us at
> some point was notably rare, perhaps never have been recorded in the state
> previously. But honestly, how are we really to know? Having a reasonably
> accurate set of range maps—which would take years, or more accurately
> decades, to develop—would certainly be a helpful starting place but even
> that would still provide only so much information. ****
>
> ** **
>
> There is no fount or repository of comprehensive knowledge of which I’m
> aware, though I’d be interested in people sharing the info source upon which
> they most depend or find most useful. Short of independently-gained
> knowledge over time, I’m not sure there is a clear cut answer to truly
> understanding moth diversity in our state(s) and region(s). Moths are the
> most complex natural history “thing” with which I’ve ever become involved,
> by leaps and bounds. Comparatively speaking, birding and butterflying is a
> breeze. It is entirely possible to master the avifauna of a state or region
> (identification, variation, range, behavior, diet, reproduction, timing … ),
> for example, and in a relatively short period of time, but one could live
> several lifetimes and still not develop a full grasp of the moth picture
> even for a single state! But that’s what makes it all so much fun, isn’t
> it?****
>
> ** **
>
> Lep on!****
>
> Parker****
>
> ** **
>
> **
>
>
>
>
Other related posts:
