Final Data Associated with Two-year Inventory of Macrolepidoptera and Other Insects Inhabiting the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Dieffenbach F. 2003. Final Data Associated with Two-year Inventory of Macrolepidoptera and Other Insects Inhabiting the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Mark J. Mello Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies
Fourteen islands within the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area were surveyed on 67 nights during 2001 and 2002 as part of a five-year inventory of the natural resources of the park. A total of 394 species of macrolepidoptera and 166 species of microlepidoptera were documented, as well as 51 species of butterflies, 11 odonates and one tiger beetle during daytime observations. Two moths and one odonate listed as rare in the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act were documented: Spartiniphaga inops Grote (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Amphipyrinae), Abagrotis nefascia Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Agrotinae), and Anax longipes Hagen (Odonata: Aeshnidae). S. inops is resident on Worlds End, and A. nefascia on Lovells Island. A. longipes is likely only a migratory visitor. The total number of macrolepidoptera species seems low, given the sampling effort and variety of habitats present. The strong ambient light emanating from Boston and surrounding cites, as well as the high percentage of non-native vegetation on many of the islands, are two possible factors that could explain the reduced observed diversity.
- Type
- Geospatial Dataset
- Authors
- Dieffenbach, Fred
- Date of Issue
- 2003
- Publisher
- Mark J. Mello Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies
- Units
- BOHA
- Keywords
- 2001, 2002, Biological, BOHA, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Inventory, Massachusetts, Survey