ALBANY: Grace Nichols has been taking volunteers out the Pine Bush to monitor buckmoths. The protocol is very simple and does not bother the moths at all. A volunteer scans for 10 minutes and counts mohts and then take 10 minutes off. It is a lot like bird counts that can be done by anyone.

The buckmoths are fuzzy, diurnal, and a striking white/black and red. They also love the autumn and are extremely unusual and rare. The NY variety differs genetically from others found in other parts of the country.

Buckmoths are an indicator species for high quality pine barrens habitat. They are a species of special concern in NY State. The buckmoth is a species worthy of our care and attention!

 

 

Published in the October/November 2009 Newsletter