Austin Butterfly Forum Club Activities

08/25/2024

ABF Zoom presentation: "Dusty Demons to Aquatic Angels: Diversity & Biology of Lacewings Insects - Monday August 26th @ 7:00pm (central) by Dr. David E. Bowles.
https://brianabel.github.io/AustinButterflies/

08/28/2023

Greetings,

Our August Austin Butterfly Forum speaker will be club member Ian M. Wright, who will be speaking on "California: Butterflies and Beyond"

Monday, August 28th at 7 pm central (Chicago/Dallas) time

Description: In this talk Ian will take you on a lepidopterist’s tour of California. We will highlight some of the unique butterflies in the state as well as the habitats, soils, and biogeography that make California such an interesting state for insects.

Bio: Ian M. Wright is a field biologist with over two decades of entomological expertise. He has conducted butterfly surveys, sampled insect diversity, taught courses in entomology and natural history, and curated entomology collections in California and Texas. He has worked on projects to conserve threatened species and is driven by a fascination with their natural history. Ian is also an avid macro and nature photographer and documents the species and habitats he observes on expeditions around the country and the globe.

Link to Join Austin Butterfly Forum Zoom Meeting
bit.ly/3Z8GOn7

09/26/2022

The Austin Butterfly Forum meeting tonight will be presented by Benjamin Schwartz on his 2020 Odonate big year!

Monday, Sept 26 @ 7pm central

Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89448990174

Title: What I learned from Odonates: a ‘Big Year’ adventures and discoveries across Texas

Description: In early 2020, I hatched a plan to try and find and photograph 200 of the ~250 species of Odonata recorded in Texas. It wasn’t until I ran into a birder sometime in late spring that I learned this is called a ‘Big Year’. Covid turned 2020 turned into the perfect year for this, and I used it as an opportunity to discover and visit many remote corners and locations in Texas that I had not yet seen or even heard of.

more info here: http://austinbutterflies.org/

07/21/2021

Just in time for the climax of Moth Week (pun intended):
“Male S*x Scales of Moths – Natural Wicks for Scent Dispersal” - ABF zoom Monday, 7pm, July 26th (Zoom info at bottom)

By Dr. Richard L. Brown, Director Emeritus, Mississippi Entomological Museum

Butterflies and moths attract attention because of their colorful wing patterns, but males of many Lepidoptera have scales that lack pigments and are used for producing and disseminating pheromones that are essential for mating success.

This presentation examines the male scent scales of tortricid and gelechiid moths with a scanning electron microscope. The magnified scales reveal another kind of beauty, with structural innovations that increase surface area (for improved dissemination) and protect the scent scales in different ways when not in courtship.

ABOUT DR. THOMPSON:
I began collecting and studying microlepidoptera in Arkansas during the 1960’s and obtained my M.S. degree in Entomology at the University of Arkansas. After serving as a medical entomologist in the U.S. Army at Ft. Sam Houston, I obtained a Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1980. I was then employed as Director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University where I also taught courses in Insect Taxonomy, Aquatic Insects, and Immature Insects.
My research has concentrated on morphology and systematics of tortricid and gelechiid moths and has involved fieldwork throughout the U.S. and in Chile, Venezuela, New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, and Thailand. Since my retirement in 2020, I have greatly enjoyed working full-time on moths and manuscripts.
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ZOOM:
In browser: Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86426006695

In app: Meeting ID: 864 2600 6695

One tap mobile
+13462487799,,86426006695 # US (Houston)
+16699006833,,86426006695 # US (San Jose)

07/09/2021

There are two interesting learning events coming up this month that you might be interested in. Neither one is a freebie, but they should be excellent opportunities to learn about insects/butterflies.

The first is a class taught by John and Kendra Abbott. They are both experts in their field and accomplished teachers and photographers. They are teaching a class on July 19, 21, 26, and 28th called Virtual Class: Common Insects of Texas. If you have any questions, contact Caley Zuzula at [email protected].

https://travisaudubon.org/?event=virtual-class-common-insects-of-texas&event_date=2021-07-19
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On July 24th from 11 am to 12 pm, Journey North will present the webinar
Wildlife Migration and You! Exploring the Role of the Public in Tracking Wildlife Migration and Phenology*

Zoom link will be provided when you register.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journey-north-wildlife-migration-and-you-tickets-121731200297

One-hour webinar to learn how you can help track migration, particularly the migration of monarch butterflies

07/04/2021

Here's the recording you asked for:

A Tribute to a Texas Naturalist, Greg Lasley (1949-2021), presented by Chuck S*xton, Ph.D

06/25/2021

This Monday, June 28th, at 7-8ish pm, on ZOOM: A Tribute to a Texas Naturalist: Greg Lasley (1949-2021), presented by Dr. Chuck S*xton, retired wildlife biologist, birder, iNaturalist, and lecturer.

"A Tribute to a Texas Naturalist: Greg Lasley (1949 - 2021)

The recent passing of Greg Lasley has brought into focus his wide-ranging career in linking people with nature. As a top birder, world-class photographer, and patient citizen scientist, Greg Lasley touched the lives of countless others during his own quest to study and understand the natural world. His long-time friend and birding companion Chuck S*xton will review the breadth of Greg’s contributions, particularly with respect to the world of insects, and relate a few personal stories of their travels during a 40-year friendship.
Come early or late, leave when/if you need to. Should last about an hour.
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Join this monthly Zoom Meeting via your ZOOM app. (Be sure you have the latest version of the Zoom app.) You're welcome to log on early to socialize with other nature lovers. (The following is the permanent ID for this and all future meetings.)
Meeting ID: 872 6932 3860
To join by browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87269323860

05/25/2021

This Sunday, May 30, 2021
Our first Austin Butterfly Forum Field Trip in over a year!
Commons Ford Metropolitan Park
614 N Commons Ford Rd, Austin
9 - 12 am
Free of charge

Since our Zilker Park meeting room is still unavailable, we voted to get together in person for a nature outing. It's been awhile! If you haven’t visited this park you're in for a surprise, and if you know the park you know why we're going: it's a beautiful place for walking and viewing lepidoptera, and wildflowers will be at their peak! We'll search for and identify not only butterflies and wildflowers, but other insects and birds, too.

Because it's outdoors in open spaces, the nature walk is mask-optional. [Each member of the core group organizing this walk has been vaccinated.] It'll be fun, invigorating, and educational, too. Come along with us!

We meet between 8:45 and 9am at the parking area, near the old Barn at the end of the entrance road.
Leader: Dan Hardy

NOTE: We’ll be watching the weather as the day approaches. If we have to cancel, we'll do so the night before, right here.
You can also text 617.501.5838 the morning of, if you think there's a question about rescheduling.

Commons Ford is an Austin favorite for fishing, swimming, picnics and more. Click here for access information and more for Commons Ford!