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| List: MassLep Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 19:51:41 +0000 From: 'Madison, Stafford' via MassLep <masslep...> Subject: RE: [MassLep] Cuba Trip Report - Butterflies and Odes |
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--_000_EA3PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EAEA3PR09MB12040na_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I think I want to be Steve Mirick when I grow up............ Pretty sure you leave us all wistful for Cuba. Thank you for those incredible photos! Stafford From: 'Steve Mirick' via MassLep <masslep...> Sent: Friday, April 3, 2026 1:16 PM To: NHButterfly <NHButterfly...>; Mass Leps <masslep@googlegr= oups.com>; NHDS <nh-dragonfly-survey...> Subject: [MassLep] Cuba Trip Report - Butterflies and Odes Caution: This email originated from outside EPA, please exercise additional= caution when deciding whether to open attachments or click on provided lin= ks. Jane and I traveled down to Cuba (yes Cuba!) for a 10-day birding trip orga= nized by Lisa Sorenson of BirdsCarribean. https://www.birdscaribbean.org/ Despite the difficult situation down there, the trip went flawlessly and we= got all of the "expected" endemic species of birds of Cuba. We had a grea= t time! https://ebird.org/tripreport/488831 As usual, I spent a lot of my time....while watching birds....also watching= for any insects I could photograph! Despite a (relative to Texas) lush appearance and a recent rainstorm before= our arrival, Cuba appeared to be in a drought situation with water levels = below normal. I really don't have a good feel as to how dry it is, or is n= ot, but some flood plains were dry as a bone. With the exception of mosquitoes at one location (perhaps due to recent rai= ns), insect numbers and diversity seemed very low although I'm certainly no= t an authority. Some fields of flowers seemingly devoid of pollinators. P= erhaps because of time of year and lack of rain?? I worked hard for what I= was able to document. I ended up with 53 photographs and 25 species of bu= tterflies. Assuming the ID's are correct of course: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=3D6944&subview=3Dmap&taxo= n_id=3D47224&user_id=3Dstevemirick&verifiable=3Dany&view=3Dspecies Interesting species included: Cuban Calisto - Endemic to Cuba and the Bahamas. Fairly common locally. Caribbean Ruby-Eye - One. Not endemic, but generally not commonly reported= in iNat and most commonly in the Caribbean. Mercureal Skipper - One. 8th record in iNaturalist for Cuba. Proteides maysi - One. Endemic to Cuba and only the 12th record in iNatura= list. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/346626547 One other Lep of interest was Urania boisduvalii a species of day flying mo= th. These beautiful big moths were very common, flying around in the morni= ng and evenings, but we only saw it around Vinales in western Cuba. And th= ey were very difficult to photograph as they rarely landed and seemed to ne= ctar high up in trees. Apparently, they're an endemic species of Urania mo= th that migrates within Cuba. The moth is able to metabolize poisons from = its host plant (Omphalea spp.) which provide it with defense against predat= ors in its adult form. But apparently the host plants can produce secondar= y metabolites as a defense against the moth's larvae and this forces the ad= ults to migrate. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/346892111 Odonates were also in short supply. I only got 15 photos of 7 common speci= es: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=3D6944&subview=3Dmap&taxo= n_id=3D47792&user_id=3Dstevemirick&verifiable=3Dany&view=3Dspecies Steve Mirick Bradford, MA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "= MassLep" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to masslep+<unsubscribe...><mailto:masslep+unsubscribe@goo= glegroups.com>. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/masslep/a13= <e18cf-42b9-4d78-b4ed-5687f7cc1689...><https://groups.google.com/d= /msgid/masslep/<a13e18cf-42b9-4d78-b4ed-5687f7cc1689...>?utm_mediu= m=3Demail&utm_source=3Dfooter>. --=20 You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "= MassLep" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to masslep+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/masslep/EA3= <PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EA...>= .com. --_000_EA3PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EAEA3PR09MB12040na_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-micr= osoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:m=3D"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns=3D"http:= //www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dus-ascii"= > <meta name=3D"Generator" content=3D"Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:DontUseAdvancedTypographyReadingMail/> <w:DontUseJustificationAdvancedTypographyReadingMail/> <w:DontUseHyphenationAdvancedTypographyReadingMail/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Aptos;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} span.EmailStyle19 {mso-style-type:personal-reply; font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif; color:windowtext;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ligatures:none;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit"> <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </head> <body lang=3D"EN-US" link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"purple" style=3D"word-wrap:brea= k-word"> <div class=3D"WordSection1"> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">I think I want to be Steve Mirick when I grow upR= 30;………<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Pretty sure you leave us all wistful for Cuba.<o:p><= /o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Thank you for those incredible photos!<o:p></o:p></p= > <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Stafford<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <div style=3D"border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in = 0in 0in"> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"= ;Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt;= font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> 'Steve Mirick' via MassLep <= ;<masslep...>> <br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 3, 2026 1:16 PM<br> <b>To:</b> NHButterfly <<NHButterfly...>>; Mass Leps <= <masslep...>>; NHDS <<nh-dragonfly-survey...>= ><br> <b>Subject:</b> [MassLep] Cuba Trip Report - Butterflies and Odes<o:p></o:p= ></span></p> </div> </div> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <table class=3D"MsoNormalTable" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding= =3D"0" align=3D"left" width=3D"100%" style=3D"width:100.0%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style=3D"background:red;padding:5.0pt 2.0pt 5.0pt 2.0pt"></td> <td width=3D"100%" style=3D"width:100.0%;padding:5.0pt 4.0pt 5.0pt 12.0pt;b= ackground:#ff000"> <div> <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:= 2.25pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-el= ement-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly"> <b><span style=3D"color:black">Caution:</span></b><span style=3D"color:blac= k"> This email originated from outside EPA, please exercise additional caut= ion when deciding whether to open attachments or click on provided links. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt">Jane and I traveled d= own to Cuba (yes Cuba!) for a 10-day birding trip organized by Lisa Sorenso= n of BirdsCarribean.<br> <br> <a href=3D"https://www.birdscaribbean.org/">https://www.birdscaribbean.org/= </a><br> <br> Despite the difficult situation down there, the trip went flawlessly and we= got all of the "expected" endemic species of birds of Cuba. = ; We had a great time!<br> <br> <a href=3D"https://ebird.org/tripreport/488831">https://ebird.org/triprepor= t/488831</a><br> <br> As usual, I spent a lot of my time....while watching birds....also watching= for any insects I could photograph!<br> <br> Despite a (relative to Texas) lush appearance and a recent rainstorm before= our arrival, Cuba appeared to be in a drought situation with water levels = below normal. I really don't have a good feel as to how dry it is, or= is not, but some flood plains were dry as a bone.<br> <br> With the exception of mosquitoes at one location (perhaps due to recent rai= ns), insect numbers and diversity seemed very low although I'm certainly no= t an authority. Some fields of flowers seemingly devoid of pollinator= s. Perhaps because of time of year and lack of rain?? I worked hard for what I was able to document. = I ended up with 53 photographs and 25 species of butterflies. Assumin= g the ID's are correct of course:<br> <br> <a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=3D6944&sub= view=3Dmap&taxon_id=3D47224&user_id=3Dstevemirick&verifiable=3D= any&view=3Dspecies">https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id= =3D6944&subview=3Dmap&taxon_id=3D47224&user_id=3Dstevemirick&am= p;verifiable=3Dany&view=3Dspecies</a><br> <br> Interesting species included:<br> <br> Cuban Calisto - Endemic to Cuba and the Bahamas. Fairly common locall= y.<br> Caribbean Ruby-Eye - One. Not endemic, but generally not commonly rep= orted in iNat and most commonly in the Caribbean.<br> Mercureal Skipper - One. 8th record in iNaturalist for Cuba.<br> Proteides maysi - One. Endemic to Cuba and only the 12th record in iN= aturalist.<br> <a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/346626547">https://www.= inaturalist.org/observations/346626547</a><br> <br> One other Lep of interest was Urania boisduvalii a species of day flying mo= th. These beautiful big moths were very common, flying around in the = morning and evenings, but we only saw it around Vinales in western Cuba.&nb= sp; And they were very difficult to photograph as they rarely landed and seemed to nectar high up in trees. Apparen= tly, they're an endemic species of Urania moth that migrates within Cuba.&n= bsp; The moth is able to metabolize poisons from its host plant (<i>Omphale= a</i> spp.) which provide it with defense against predators in its adult form. But apparently the host plants = can produce secondary metabolites as a defense against the moth's larvae an= d this forces the adults to migrate. <br> <br> <a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/346892111">https://www.= inaturalist.org/observations/346892111</a><br> <br> Odonates were also in short supply. I only got 15 photos of 7 common = species:<br> <br> <a href=3D"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=3D6944&sub= view=3Dmap&taxon_id=3D47792&user_id=3Dstevemirick&verifiable=3D= any&view=3Dspecies">https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id= =3D6944&subview=3Dmap&taxon_id=3D47792&user_id=3Dstevemirick&am= p;verifiable=3Dany&view=3Dspecies</a><br> <br> <br> Steve Mirick<br> Bradford, MA<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">-- <br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups &= quot;MassLep" group.<br> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to <a href=3D"mailto:masslep+<unsubscribe...>">masslep+unsubscribe= @googlegroups.com</a>.<br> To view this discussion visit <a href=3D"https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/= masslep/<a13e18cf-42b9-4d78-b4ed-5687f7cc1689...>?utm_medium=3Dema= il&utm_source=3Dfooter"> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/masslep/a13e18cf-42b9-4d78-b4ed-5687f7cc1= <689...></a>.<o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> </body> </html> <p></p> -- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups &= quot;MassLep" group.<br /> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an e= mail to <a href=3D"mailto:masslep+<unsubscribe...>">masslep+uns= <ubscribe...></a>.<br /> To view this discussion visit <a href=3D"https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/= masslep/<EA3PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EA...>= rod.outlook.com?utm_medium=3Demail&utm_source=3Dfooter">https://groups.goog= le.com/d/msgid/masslep/EA3PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EA%40EA3PR09MB1= 2040.namprd09.prod.outlook.com</a>.<br /> --_000_EA3PR09MB12040555A3DD5EE6DDA13591C9C5EAEA3PR09MB12040na_-- |
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