The Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The first Smokies Lep Blitz was held in 2000, with 706 species captured and identified in 24 hours, the largest one-day species list yet assembled for North America, illustrating the hyperdiverse nature of the park. Over 800 species were documented on 9 June 2002. Gazoryctra sciophanes, an Appalachian endemic ghost moth, known from less than five high elevation sites in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, was relocated. The author proposes this species should be considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Many other Appalachian endemics or high elevation specialists were located as relict populations far south of their typical range. The most significant find of 2001 was the discovery of a new, strikingly colored geometrid moth, Ligdia n. sp. This is the first time a member of this geometrid genus (Ligdia) and tribe (Abraxinae) has been found in the New World. As of 2005, the cumulative effort for the park stands at over 4,085 individuals and 940 species sequenced for mitochondrial DNA analysis (DNA barcodes and identification of possible cryptic species that look alike to the human eye). Material from over 300 species has been cryopreserved and deposited in the Ambrose Monell Collection for Molecular and Microbial Research and images were taken of over 500 species. In 2006, researchers collected over 500 species of larvae to develop DNA material for linking larvae to already barcoded adult specimens. In 2007, work at Purchase Knob and Cataloochee confirmed that the two largest members of the Ghost Moth family (Hepialidae) to be found in the park, Sthenopis argenteomaculatus and S. auratus appear to have very healthy populations in the eastern part of the park. New park record species of macrolepidoptera continued to be collected in 2007 2008, 2009, and 2011 (some records mentioned in annual reports), with a total park lep list of 1881 as of end of 2011. "Clearly, there are still new (though not a huge number) of macromoth species to be discovered in the park."--Adams.

The Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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