LEPIDOPTERA AND ODONATA SURVEYS
OF
COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK,
JAMES CITY, SURRY,
AND
YORK COUNTIES, VIRGINIA

Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/063

A. C. Chazal
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
217 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219

October 2006

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Northeast Region
Boston, Massachusetts

_________________________________

Abstract

In 2003, the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service contracted with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage (DCR-DNH) to conduct an inventory of the diurnal Lepidoptera and Odonata on Colonial National Historical Park (COLO), located in James City, Surry, and York counties, Virginia. Between May-July 2003 and April-October 2004, DCR-DNH conducted surveys over 18 days covering 17 different habitats, which were categorized into six habitat types: developed areas, fields, forested uplands, forested wetlands, marshes, and water (i.e. freshwater ponds). Fifty-seven species of Lepidoptera and 42 species of Odonata were observed. The field habitat, primarily classified as Planted/Cultured/Cultivated Herbaceous Vegetation, had the highest species diversity and highest total numbers for Lepidoptera. The field habitats also had the highest species diversity and second highest totals (forested wetlands had higher totals) for Odonata. The globally rare skipper, Problema bulenta (Rare Skipper G2G3 S1), was reconfirmed at an existing site on COLO, but no further occurrences were found during targeted surveys for that species. Five watchlisted species were observed: Aaron’s Skipper (Poanes aaroni), Comet Darner (Anax longipes), Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum), Furtive Forktail (Ischnura prognata), and Duckweed Firetail (Telebasis byersi). All of these watchlisted species are considered common to very common and secure across their global ranges. The results of this survey represent 37 new county records for Lepidoptera and 26 for Odonata. Species accumulation curves indicate that further surveys for Lepidoptera and Odonata may increase the known fauna of COLO.

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