https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?RSS&L=VTLEPS&v=1.0 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=VTLEPS VTLEPS List Archives 2026-07-15T23:33:52Z https://www.lsoft.com/products/listserv-powered.asp https://www.lsoft.com/images/listserv_64x64.png https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;fff2fac.2607 Wow. Very interesting. I saw a Blue Monarch in Kenya.<br><br>On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Bernard Paquette &lt;<br>000010e91c231e57-dmarc-request@list.uvm.edu&gt; wrote:<br><br>&gt; Hello, I understand a white, or in this case, gray-colored Monarch is<br>&gt; uncommon, at least in Vermont.<br>&gt;<br>&gt; &quot;White Monarch butterflies—a rare genetic morph known as Danaus plexippus<br>&gt; nivosus—feature white or pale yellow wings instead of the typical orange.<br>&gt; They are most commonly found in Oahu, Hawai‘i, where an estimated 10% of<br>&gt; the population displays this coloration. Isolated sightings have also been<br>&gt; reported in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Tonga, and across the<br>> [...] 2026-07-15T19:33:49-04:00 Lynn Havsall https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;fff2fac.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;50df201d.2607 Hello, I understand a white, or in this case, gray-colored Monarch is uncommon, at least in Vermont. <br>&quot;White Monarch butterflies—a rare genetic morph known as Danaus plexippus nivosus—feature white or pale yellow wings instead of the typical orange. They are most commonly found in Oahu, Hawai‘i, where an estimated 10% of the population displays this coloration. Isolated sightings have also been reported in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Tonga, and across the mainland United States.<br> A white Monarch, named nivosus by Lepidopterists, is grayish white in all areas of the wings that are normally orange (Vane-Wright 1993). Several authors (Stimson and [...] 2026-07-15T18:21:33+00:00 Bernard Paquette https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;50df201d.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;e97cc0ff.2607 Someone shared this on iNaturalist and I thought others might like to have<br>it too.<br>Eastern Cloudywings.pdf - Google Drive<br>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vI1Rf2AQ8MrQTnE5hOkLt_kqr04FT7GW/view 2026-07-14T08:20:37-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;e97cc0ff.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;c2919a08.2607 Explore Vermont's astounding moth diversity! By participating in our annual<br>Moth Blitz, you will help the Vermont Moth Atlas<br>&lt;https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vermont-atlas-moth/%20&gt; develop a<br>better understanding of the moths that call the Green Mountain State home.<br>Over 2,000 moth species have been documented in Vermont with new species<br>being found all the time. Who knows, maybe you will find one! We encourage<br>everyone, from experts to amateur enthusiasts, to find, photograph, and<br>share their moth discoveries with the Vermont Moth Blitz during National<br>Moth Week (July 18-26). Can we beat last years' tally? [...] 2026-07-14T08:16:41-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;c2919a08.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;3a2fdcc9.2607 Sign of old age for us, what is turning gray to Monarchs?Monarch (Danaus plexippus)<br><br>|<br>|<br>|<br>| | |<br><br>|<br><br>|<br>|<br>| |<br>Monarch (Danaus plexippus)<br><br>Monarch from Laisdell pond, Jericho, VT on July 12, 2026 at 02:30 PM by Bernie Paquette<br>|<br><br>|<br><br>|<br><br>Laugh, Dream, Try, and Do Good<br><br>- Bernie,  Public Relations Mgr  for Insects; Promoting the joy of observing Insects (Inverting) Project Manager,  Vermont Entomology Academy: Inspiring Curiosity Through Insects and Nature Education                                              [...] 2026-07-14T09:28:30+00:00 Bernard Paquette https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;3a2fdcc9.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;8075427e.2607 I use grass-skipper,<br>Hesperiinae, or there is also “witches”.<br>Kent 2026-07-13T20:59:00-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;8075427e.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;e5781e01.2607 I have a question about skipper taxonomy.<br>If I'm unsure about a skipper but know it's a grass skipper should I list<br>it on e-butterfly as Monza or Hesperiinae? One comes up if I write in grass<br>skipper (singular) and the other if I make it plural. Is Monza more<br>specific and if so who does it include? [...] 2026-07-13T17:57:07-04:00 Kate Taylor https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;e5781e01.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;8f94f543.2607 *The butterfly at the bottom is the Aphrodite Fritillary (**Speyeria<br>aphrodite). *The butterfly at the top is the Great Spangled Fritillary<br>(*Speyeria<br>cybele). *<br><br>These two large, amber-eyed species can be hard to tell apart while flying.<br>To identify them, take a look at the wide brown-orange area on the<br>upperside of their forewing. In the Great Spangled Fritillary, this patch<br>is larger and has no spots or marks inside it. In the Aphrodite Fritillary,<br>this patch is smaller and has a black basal spot on each wing in the second<br>cell down. This can be difficult to see in [...] 2026-07-10T17:02:03-04:00 Dana Williams https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;8f94f543.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;90d78646.2607 You've probably seen this big, black skipper dart past you over the past<br>month but surprisingly, they are missing from many peoples' blocks! If<br>you're missing this one from your list, here's a helpful fact so you can<br>figure out the best place to look for them.<br><br>*Which plant is a host plant for the Silver-spotted Skipper ? *<br>[image: silver-spotted skipper_cc0_brucecook.jpeg] [...] 2026-07-10T09:50:09-04:00 Dana Williams https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;90d78646.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;c3bd816f.2607 haha. As long as you don't judge me Kevin when I come up short for all of<br>mine! haha.<br>40 is the gold. 30 is still bronze! 2026-07-08T18:37:22-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;c3bd816f.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;51a9fef.2607 Full message available at: <a href="https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;51a9fef.2607">Re: Block Checklist Tool data updated</a> 2026-07-08T18:25:57-04:00 Kevin Hemeon https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;51a9fef.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;6e7b274a.2607 Yes it does! And, the checklist tool accounts for this. It will list, at<br>the bottom, those that are genus only. And it adds them to the total at the<br>top. So if you have nothing to species level in a genus (or even higher on<br>the taxonomic tree), it counts them! I was sure to add this to the code<br>when I made it. Sometimes we need all the help and encouragement we can<br>get!<br>Kent 2026-07-08T17:45:07-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;6e7b274a.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;1f570ecd.2607 This tool is very helpful. Question about the target number of species for each block. Does the 40 goal include species to genus only such as those pesky Crescents?<br>Sue<br>On Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 04:42:33 PM EDT, Kent McFarland &lt;kmcfarland@vtecostudies.org&gt; wrote:<br><br>I just updated the Block Checklist Tool to the latest data upload.  [...] 2026-07-08T21:40:55+00:00 Susan Elliott https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;1f570ecd.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;a4823693.2607 I just updated the Block Checklist Tool to the latest data upload.<br><br>📅 *Data Updated*<br>eButterfly &amp; GBIF 2026-07-08<br>iNaturalist 2026-06-29<br><br>Thanks,<br>Kent 2026-07-08T16:40:12-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;a4823693.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;1b636b1a.2607 Full message available at: <a href="https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;1b636b1a.2607">Re: E-butterfly</a> 2026-07-03T21:19:17-04:00 Kevin Hemeon https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;1b636b1a.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;78596d8e.2607 I’m not sure what was going on but it’s online now for me. Engineer says<br>nothing abnormal<br>At servers. So not sure what that was all about. Hope it works for you now<br>Kevin. You might try emptying cache of your browser if not<br>Kent 2026-07-03T20:58:23-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;78596d8e.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;9f4efce9.2607 It appears to be down. I have a message into the engineer<br>Kent 2026-07-03T20:53:56-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;9f4efce9.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;cf7f2ace.2607 Is anyone else having trouble opening the site? Maintenance or everyone overwhelming the site with their awesome finds or me just being a caveman again?<br>Sent from my iPhone 2026-07-03T20:42:36-04:00 Kevin Hemeon https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;cf7f2ace.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;f4d7af9c.2607 Full message available at: <a href="https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;f4d7af9c.2607">Re: Week 27: Butterfly ID Quiz</a> 2026-07-03T09:09:02-04:00 Kevin Hemeon https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;f4d7af9c.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;934e57e2.2607 *The picture at the bottom shows a Northern Cloudywing (Cercopterus *<br>*pylades, **formerly Thorybes **pylades**). *The photo at the top shows<br>another Duskwing Skipper look-alike, the Common Sootywing (*Pholisora<br>catullus). *<br><br>The *Northern Cloudywing* is a small, brown butterfly that can be easily<br>confused with a Duskywing. On the upper and undersides of the wings, you<br>can find several cream-colored, short stripes, although these can be very<br>pale or absent in some individuals. Spots, when present, look more triangle<br>shaped than round. [...] 2026-07-03T08:00:00-04:00 Dana Williams https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;934e57e2.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;abaff2a9.2607 In July, we start seeing our three Greater Fritillaries in Vermont. These<br>large, orange and black butterflies love flying in straight lines over<br>fields, making them difficult to tell apart as they zoom by. But up close -<br>can you tell the difference?<br><br>*Which photo shows an Aphrodite Fritillary?*<br>[image: Week 28 Butterfly ID Quiz.png] [...] 2026-07-03T08:00:00-04:00 Dana Williams https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;abaff2a9.2607 https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;110fd0d7.2607 Hi Folks,<br>iNat updated data to GBIF (where we get all the data) through June 21<br>(eButterfly does it everyday) and so I updated the Block Checklist Tool<br>today. I hope you all stay as cool as you can!<br>https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vermont-butterfly-atlas/block-checklist-tool/<br>Kent 2026-07-01T15:23:25-04:00 Kent McFarland https://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=VTLEPS;110fd0d7.2607