Assessing the response of pine barrens endemic moths to land
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Neil Schoppmann Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation Final Report (Summer 2014) Assessing the response of pine barrens endemic moths to land management in the Albany Pine Bush Rationale Pine barrens are among the most critically imperiled habitats in the Northeastern United States. They support a diverse assemblage of endemic species, especially among the insects. As many as 40% of all invertebrates listed as rare or declining in the Northeast are endemic to pine barrens. Over the course of the 20th century, the combined effects of development and fire suppression have destroyed or severely degraded northeastern pine barrens, and the remaining areas are threatened by the proliferation of invasive plants and further fragmentation. I conducted my study in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APB), a unique inland barrens which has lost 95% of its historic extent since the late 1800’s. An intensive restoration effort began in the early 1990’s, and has restored a significant area of remaining high quality barrens habitat to the APB, in compliance with the mandate that the federally protected Karner blue butterfly (Lycaedes melissa samuelis) be protected. The onset of this management plan was accompanied by a thorough survey of the insects in the Preserve, conducted by Dr. Tim McCabe in 199192. Since that time however, there have been no follow-up monitoring efforts on the insect community as a whole; only select, charismatic species are considered in the Preserve Commission’s regular management operations. With the exception of the Karner Blue butterfly, there has been no formal survey effort to assess the effects of restoration on insect communities. Project objectives My goal in this project was to assess changes to the Lepidopteran community in the Pine Bush following two decades of restoration and management using McCabe’s 1991 survey as a benchmark. I focused on nocturnal Lepidoptera (exclusively moths) because they are diverse, relatively easy to identify to species, and because they were formally surveyed in McCabe’s inventory. Furthermore, moths are among the best studied insect groups; the life histories of many species are well known, and there is a detailed collection record which dates back to the 1850’s in the Northeast. These qualities make them strong candidates for indicator species when considering the health of the overall invertebrate community. I conducted systematic light trapping in 6 pre-selected habitat patches to quantify moth diversity among two management regimes (early successional pine barrens, and mature pine barrens) and unmanaged areas of the preserve. In particular, I targeted species which are documented in scientific literature as endemic to pine barren habitat, or are listed by the New York Natural History Program (provide URL) as rare, endangered, or threatened. Results The survey was conducted using industry standard 15 watt battery powered UV Light traps suspended over 5 gallon buckets (Fig. 1), placed at a series of sites which were deemed representative of Early successional pine barrens (having been mown and burned within the last 5 years), Mature pine barrens (with > 5 years of management treatment), and unmanaged sites (having not received management in the last two decades). Each trap was connected to a photo sensor and ran automatically from dusk until dawn when deployed. Trapping took place between mid-May and mid-October. Traps were run for one night at a time, with a maximum time interval of 14 days between trapping events. Beginning in June, additional traps were deployed at sites which were considered to be of exceptionally high quality, based on the species richness and number of individuals taken during trapping events in May. Contents of each trap were collected in the morning after a trapping event, labeled, and frozen until processing for identification. I identified all specimens and assigned preliminary identifications to difficult species and any of potential high value for conservation. These identities were confirmed by taxonomic experts (Dr. David Wagner, University of Connecticut or Dr. Tim McCabe New York State Museum). At least one voucher of each species identified was preserved and retained in collection, so that any identified species could be accessed in the future. A total of 5,797 individual specimens, from 360 species, were collected and identified from 90 trapping events over the course of the season. A full list of all species recorded is included in Appendix A. Of these, 14 species (273 individual specimens) can be considered obligate pine barren habitat specialists (Table 1) Table 1: Pine barrens obligate species counts in early successional and mature barrens habitat, and unmanaged sites within the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Taxonomic Family Geometridae Geometridae Geometridae Geometridae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Noctuidae Species Apodrepanulatrix liberaria Macaria bicolorata Nepytia canosaria Speranza exonerata Acronicta sperata Agrotis volubilis Catocala gracilis Catocala similis Catocala sordida Chaetaglaea cerata Papaipema lysimachiae Xestia elimata Zale curema Zale metatoides Zanclognatha martha Total: Early Successional 17 7 0 10 1 0 1 1 3 1 7 51 0 0 14 113 Mature 10 26 1 2 0 2 0 4 3 0 4 82 2 1 9 146 Unmanaged 1 1 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 14 Total 28 34 1 12 1 11 1 5 6 3 11 133 3 1 23 273 McCabe (unpublished report, NY State Museum) found that 52 species of pine barren endemic moths were historically present in the Albany Pine Bush. This suggests that a significant loss of endemic moth species has occurred in the quarter century since his study (note: this count only includes nocturnal species; diurnal moths such as the pine barren buck moth (Hemileuca maia) and the clearwing sphinx (Hemaris gracilis) were not considered). The endemic species recorded in my study are found almost exclusively in habitat actively managed by the Preserve Commission (Figure 2). This suggests that restoration efforts have had and are having a significant positive influence on the retention of remaining species. Given that my sampling encompassed only a single season, it is not yet clear whether species recorded by McCabe but not recovered in my survey are truly missing, or are uncommon enough that they were not detected. Overall number of barrens obligates recorded at each management treatment. Number of individuals recorded 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Early Successional Mature Unmanaged Axis Title Figure 2: Number of individual pine barren specialist moths at early successional (31 traps), mature successional (34 traps) and unmanaged (25 traps) habitats within the APBP, April-October, 2014. Future work To more thoroughly evaluate the moth fauna of the preserve, I will conduct another season of trapping at the same sites. This will allow for a more detailed analysis of any distributional differences in species assemblages between habitat types. It will also allow more confidence in determining whether species listed by McCabe are missing or just very rare. I am also conducting a detailed assessment of the NY State Museum collection, focusing on collection dates and locations for endemic pine barrens species allowing for a better estimate the historic rate of species loss, in the Albany Pine Bush and other Northeastern pine barrens. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation for their generous financial support, without which this work would not have been possible. I would also like to thank Neil Gifford and the staff at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve commission for their support of my project and their assistance in travel and field work, and Dr. David Wagner and Dr. Tim McCabe for their generous contributions in time and taxonomic advice. Finally, I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Dylan Parry for help and support throughout the project. Appendix A: Full list of recorded species, by taxonomic family. Apatelodidae Apatelodes torrefacta Arctiidae Apantesis nais Apantesis phalerata Cisseps fulvicollis Clemensia albata Crambidia pallida Ctenucha virginica Cycnia oregonensis Cycnia tenera Grammia arge Grammia figurata Grammia parthenice Grammia virgo Halysidota tessellaris Haploa clymene Haploa lecontei Hypercompe scribonia Hypoprepia fucosa Lophocampa caryae Phragmatobia fuliginosa Pyrrharctia isabella Spilosoma congrua Spilosoma latipennis Spilosoma virginica Virbia aurantiaca Virbia ferruginosa Virbia opella Drepanidae Drepana arcuata Geometridae Aethalura intertexta Anavitrinella pampinaria Antepione thisoaria Apodrepanulatrix liberaria Besma quercivoraria Biston betularia Cabera erythemaria Cabera variolaria Campaea perlata Caripeta piniata Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria Cyclophora packardi Cyclophora pendulinaria Digrammia ocellinata Dyspteris abortivaria Ectropis crepuscularia ectrosis crepuscularia Ennomos subsignaria Epirrhoe alternata Eubaphe mendica Euchlaena irraria Euchlaena johnsonaria Euchlaena marginaria Euchlaena muzaria Euchlaena serrata Eufidonia notataria Eugonobapta nivosaria Eulithis diversilineata Eulithis gracilineata Euphyia intermediata Eupithecia miserulata Eusarca confusaria Eutrapela clemataria Glena cribrataria Heliomata cycladata Heterophleps triguttaria Homochlodes fritillaria Horisme intestinata Hydriomena transfigurata Hypagyrtis esther Hypagyrtis piniata Hypagyrtis unipunctata Idaea demissaria Idaea dimidiata Iridopsis larvaria Iridopsis vellivolata Lambdina fiscellaria Lobocleta ossularia Lobophora nivigerata Lomographa vestaliata Macaria aemulataria Macaria bicolorata Macaria bisignata Macaria granitata Macaria minorata Macaria pinistrobata Macaria transitaria Melanolophia canadaria Melanolophia signataria Mesoleuca ruficillata Metanema inatomaria Metarranthis amyrisaria Metarranthis angularia Metarranthis duaria Metarranthis indeclinata Metarranthis obfirmaria Nematocampa resistaria Nemoria bistriaria Nemoria mimosaria Nepytia canosaria Orthofidonia flavivenata Orthonama centrostrigaria Orthonama obstipata Pasiphila rectangulata Pero ancetaria Pero honestaria Pero morrisonaria Petrophora subaequaria Plagodis alcoolaria Plagodis pulveraria Pleuroprucha insulsaria Probole alienaria Probole amicaria Prochoerodes lineola Protitame virginalis Protoboarmia porcelaria Rheumaptera prunivorata Scopula inductata Scopula limboundata Scopula quadrilineata Speranza exonerata Speranza pustularia Synchlora aerata Tacparia detersata Tetracis cachexiata Tetracis crocallata Trichodezia albovittata Xanthorhoe ferrugata Xanthotype sospeta Xanthotype urticaria Lasiocampidae Malacosoma americanum Malacosoma disstria Phyllodesma americana Tolype laricis Tolype velleda Limacodidae Apoda biguttata Euclea delphinii Lithacodes fasciola Packardia elegans Packardia geminata Prolimacodes badia Tortricidia flexuosa Tortricidia pallida Lymantriidae Dasychira basiflava Lymantria dispar Orgyia leucostigma Noctuidae Abagrotis alternata Acronicta americana Acronicta grisea Acronicta haesitata Acronicta hasta Acronicta increta Acronicta interrupta Acronicta laetifica Acronicta lanceolaria Acronicta lithospila Acronicta noctivaga Acronicta ovata Acronicta sperata Agnorisma badinodis Agrotis gladiaria Agrotis ipsilon Agrotis stigmosa Agrotis venerabilis Agrotis vetusta Agrotis volubilis Allagrapha aerea Amolita fessa Amphipoea americana Amphipyra pyramidoides Anagrapha falcifera Anathix puta Anathix ralla Apamea helva Aplectoides condita Athetis tarda Autographa precationis Bagisara rectifascia Balsa malana Balsa tristrigella Bellura obliqua Bleptina caradrinalis Caenurgina crassiuscula Caenurgina erechtea Callopistria cordata Callopistria mollissima Calyptra canadensis Catocala amica Catocala concumbens Catocala gracilis Catocala ilia Catocala micronympha Catocala parta Catocala similis Catocala sordida Catocala ultronia Chaetaglaea cerata Chaetaglaea sericea Charadra deridens Chrysanympha formosa Chytolita morbidalis Chytolita petraelis Chytonix palliatricula Colobochyla interpuncta Condica videns Cosmia calami Crocigrapha normani Cucullia asteroides Dargida diffusa Deltote bellicula Diachrysia balluca Elaphria alapallida Elaphria grata Elaphria versicolor Enargia infumata Epiglaea decliva Eucirroedia pampina Euclidia cuspidea Euparthenos nubilis Euplexia benesimilis Eupsilia morrisoni Euxoa messoria Euxoa tessellata Euxoa velleripennis Feltia geniculata Feltia herilis/tricosa Feltia jaculifera Feltia subgothica Galgula partita Hadena capsularis Hypena baltimoralis Hypena bijugalis Hypena madefactalis Hypena palparia Hyperstrotia villificans Idia aemula Idia americalis Idia diminuendis Idia lubricalis Idia rotundalis Lacanobia grandis Lacinipolia lorea Lacinipolia meditata Lacinipolia renigera Lascoria ambigualis Lateroligia ophiogramma Leucania adjuta Leucania commoides Leucania inermis Leucania pseudargyria Macrochilo absorptalis Macrochilo bivittata Macrochilo litophora Macrochilo orciferalis Maliattha synochitis Marathyssa inficita Meganola minor Meganola minuscula Meganola phylla Morrisonia evicta Mythimna unipuncta Nephelodes minians Noctua pronuba Nola cilicoides Ochropleura plecta Ogdoconta cinereola Orthodes cynica Orthodes detracta Orthodes majuscula Orthosia revicta Orthosia rubescens Paectes oculatrix Palthis angulalis Palthis asopialis Pangrapta decoralis Panopoda rufimargo Panthea acronyctoides Panthea furcilla Papaipema inquaesita Papaipema lysimachiae Papaipema pterisii Parallelia bistriaris Phalaenophana pyramusalis Phalaenostola eumelusalis Phalaenostola larentioides Phalaenostola metonalis Phlogophora iris Phlogophora periculosa Plusia venusta Polia imbrifera Polia purpurissata Ponometia candefacta Ponometia erastrioides Protodeltote albidula Protolampra brunneicollis Protorthodes oviduca Proxenus miranda Pseudeustrotia carneola Pseudohermonassa bicarnea Raphia frater Renia discoloralis Renia factiosalis Renia flavipunctalis Rivula propinqualis Schinia arcigera Schinia lynx Simyra insularis Spaelotis clandestina Spargaloma sexpunctata Spiramater lutra Striacosta albicosta Sunira bicolorago Tricholita signata Ulolonche culea Ulolonche modesta Xestia badicollis Xestia dilucida Xestia dolosa Xestia elimata Xestia normaniana Xestia smithii Zala lunata Zale curema Zale horrida Zale lunifera Zale metatoides Zale minerea Zale undularis Zale unilineata Zanclognatha cruralis Zanclognatha jacchusalis Zanclognatha laevigata Zanclognatha martha Zanclognatha obscuripennis Notodontidae Clostera albostigma Dasylophia anguina Furcula borealis Furcula occidentalis Gluphisia septentrionis Heterocampa guttivitta Hyperaeschra georgica Macrurocampa marthesia Nadata gibbosa Peridea angulosa Schizura leptinoides Schizura unicornis Symmerista albifrons Saturniidae Anisota senatoria Antheraea polyphemus Automeris io Dryocampa rubicunda Hemileuca maia Hyalophora cecropia Sphingidae Darapsa myron Hemaris thysbe Lapara bombycoides Lapara coniferarum Pachysphinx modesta Paonias excaecata Paonias myops Smerinthus cerisyi Yponomeutidae Atteva aurea
