NJ Salt marsh July 16, 2001

[Michael Gochfeld]

Yesterday Fred Lesser, Joanna Burger and I visited two islands in 
Barnegat Bay (Ocean County, NJ) near Barnegat Inlet.  "Dredge" Island 
was created about 15 years ago and has undergone extensive succession 
(like most such islands), being almost completely vegetated.  North Clam 
Island remains a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh. 

There were virtually no nectar sources present.  Salt Marsh Skippers 
(Panoquina panoquin) were NOT found.  They are "out" this time of year, 
although we find peak numbers in late summer when over a thousand can be 
counted at Brigantine (Forsyth) National Wildlife Refuge. Their host in 
NJ is presumed to be Distichlis, a widespread salt marsh grass, but you 
don't necessarily find them in patches of this grass, so I would say the 
host in NJ is still poorly known. 

There were a few Cabbage Whites which fluttered weakly out of the Beach 
Grass in the early morning.  Red Admirals WERE present, but there were 
very few, about 8 seen flying by over the course of six hours. Also one 
fresh Monarch (this species still hasn't hit central NJ in any numbers 
this summer). 

Salt marshes and barrier beaches are NOT places you would go for a 
diversity of butterflies, but they are interesting. 

The Seaside Dragonfly (Erythrodiplax berenice) was super abundant. You 
could stand in one place an estimate about 400 hovering among the 
Phragmites stems and Baccharis bushes.  


Mike Gochfeld

 
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