Okay, you fellow map-crazed iNatters! I was worried about filling the forum with a bunch of map posts, but they each individually seem to be generating conversation, some folks are asking for more, and I like doing it - so I’ll keep going for now unless the moderators tell me to stop!
I’m thinking about Europe/Canada and also some other taxa, and will probably post some of those maps soon. But for now, here’s another good U.S.A one: Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera).
Proud of New Mexicans for propelling a moth into first place. Our moth fauna is diverse and understudied … I’m judging by the number of state records and unidentified observations I have, plus a tendency for entomologists to spend time in southeast Arizona instead of southwest New Mexico.
Good suggestion - I think I’ll do that. I originally thought about just posting there, but I figured a lot more people who might appreciate them would come across them here in the forum.
To add to your work: I’d love to learn about “Most UNcommon” (but Research Grade). Might give some insights into how certain species are migrating under climate change. Thanks for doing this work, it’s valued.
No surprise Washington got the Isabella Tiger Moth – probably mostly larvae, the famous “woolly bears,” which are pretty much everywhere in early fall.
Yes, that is cool!
But sadly, we should not infer from it that the monarch population is robust. I suspect it is in part, if not largely, due to the fact that monarchs are a charismatic and easily identified species - probably the most easily IDed butterfly in North America.
“Moths only” would potentially show a bit more diversity I would think. If you are taking requests I’d love to see the exclusion of taxon 47224 (butterflies).
