Last updated: September 13, 2023

The Lancaster Butterfly and Entomological Club
2023 Our 27th year!

. .     Sleepy Orange; red phase 2022             Wheel Bug Nymphs 3 Sep 2023                  Sachem 11 Sep 2023            
Photographs by Fred Habegger

Next Events
Held At the North Museum
400 College Avenue at Buchanan Avenue, Lancaster, PA

For meeting and field trip information including weather cancelation contact Karl Gardner at .

  

Monday,  October 2, 2023   7:00 PM   
Held at the North Museum. NOTE: program change!
"Examining the Future of Insect Collections" By Josh Kulak. (Members Night, previously scheduled for this meeting will be scheduled for next year.)
Non-members welcome. Free


The regular meetings of the Lancaster Butterfly &  Entomological Club are held on the first Monday of every month from March through October (except September when we meet on the second Monday).

Meeting Location: Kinsey room on the second floor of the North Museum of Natural History & Science, at the corner of College Avenue and Buchanan Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.                Time: --- 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.

Everyone is invited to the meetings, which are free to all.
Please use the
Main entrance (which faces the intersection) and bring a friend.

The purpose of the club is to study butterflies and insects and to share that information at our meetings. Catch the enthusiasm and attend our lively club meetings. Most meetings include a lecture, discussion, and show-and-tell of books, bugs, host plants, or photos. Members and friends are invited to field trips in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania throughout the season. Learn what can be found in this area and meet other enthusiasts.

Members and friends are also welcome to participate in 2 butterfly counts which are part of the North American Butterfly Association's Fourth of nationwide July Butterfly Count program which require a nominal participation fee by NABA. They are listed below.


The Butterfly sightings page is active and sightings are being accepted for 2023. See the Butterfly Sightings below.

*** Butterfly sightings by year & month ***


Local butterfly sightings are at:
2023 Lancaster County butterfly sightings.

57 species seen in Lancaster County so far in 2023 (Sep 28 sp). Updated 9-13-23.
The first sighting date for each month is listed for the 89 species seen in
Lancaster County since 2009.
Information on contributing to this data base is on the page.

The 56 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2022.
Nov - 15, Oct - 18 sp. Most recent first of year sightings: --- Long-tailed Skipper.
Updated 11-15-22. Not final. More to be added.

Membership Information: If you wish to join the club, annual dues are $15 per household, payable at club meetings or by mail. Lancaster Butterfly and Entomological Club, Jan Schaefer, 154 Pinetown Rd, Leola, PA 17540. Jan Schaefer at  Dues Form

Unless otherwise noted, photographs on this page are by Karl Gardner.


Activity Dates for 2023

Monday,  May 1, 2023   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
“Damsels and Dragons - Flys That Is!” by member Anthony (Doc) Schoch. A digital presentation about these iconic insects will focus on their anatomy, life cycle, indication of water quality, identification and their place in the food chain of wetlands, lakes, ponds and streams. After the presentation, we will have the opportunity to share recent sightings, observations, etc.

Monday, June 5, 2023   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
"Periodical Cicadas of Berks County - 2004" and "The 2038 Periodical Cicadas Begin" by Karl Gardner Please come to share your garden insights. Our butterflies and insects need us now more than ever. Recommended plants and books and some results of plantings.

Saturday, July 1, 2023   10:00 AM  FIELD TRIP
"Furnace Hills Fourth of July Butterfly Count". Meet at Warwick Township Municipal building where the Rail Trail crosses Clay Road at 10 AM. This is part of the North American Butterfly Association's Fourth of July Butterfly Count program. $3.00 fee required which goes to NABA. Compiler Fred Habegger (Weather/cancelation info. 717-859-2521). Non-members welcome.

CORRECTED meeting location and time.
Saturday, July 8, 2023   10:00 AM  FIELD TRIP   .
"The 24th Annual Holtwood Fourth of July Butterfly Count."
Meet at the Muddy Run Park visitor's center at 10 AM. $3.00 fee required which goes to NABA. Compiler: Fred Habegger (Weather/cancelation info.717-859-2521).
Non-members welcome.

Monday,  July 10, 2023  7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
"Morning Has Broken" by past LB&EC president Fred Habegger. A half hour video of nature scenes preceded by a slide show of insect photographs taken years ago on his 15 year old first digital camera. Photo by Fred Habegger
Non-members welcome. Free

  


Monday,  August 14, 2023   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
“Damsels and Dragons - Flys That Is!” by member Anthony (Doc) Schoch. A digital presentation about these iconic insects will focus on their anatomy, life cycle, indication of water quality, identification and their place in the food chain of wetlands, lakes, ponds and streams. After the presentation, we will have the opportunity to share recent sightings, observations, etc. Come for the information and catch the enthusiasm.
Non-members welcome. Free


CORRECTED meeting location and time.
Saturday, August 19, 2023   10:00 AM    FIELD TRIP
"Furnace Hills Rerun Butterfly Count
."  Meet at 10 AM at Middle Creek Visitor's center. No fee. Leader: Fred Habegger (Weather/cancelation info.717-859-2521)
Non-members welcome. Free
  

Monday,  September 11 (NOT 12), 2023   7:00 PM
Held at the North Museum.
"Wild Moments" by LB&EC member John Laskowski. Some presentations he did on Jack Hubley's WGAL-TV program. Also, a "Cecropia Moth cocoon dissection". You may just watch or bring a pair of short sharp scissors and do a dissection yourself. And possibly the dissection of the Eurosta Fly Gall on Goldenrod if time permits.
Non-members welcome. Free

Monday,  October 2, 2023   7:00 PM   
Held at the North Museum. NOTE: program change!
"Examining the Future of Insect Collections" By Josh Kulak. (Members Night, previously scheduled for this meeting will be scheduled for next year.)
Non-members welcome. Free

*** Butterfly sightings by year ***

The -- butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2023
The 56* butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2022
The 61 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2021
The 53 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2020
The 58 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2019
The 57 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2018
The 61 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2017
The 64 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2016
The 60 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2015
The 75 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2013
The 79 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2012
The 70 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2011
The 72 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2010
The 67 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2009
Photographs of Lancaster Butterflies  - 2012 and 2011
* means report incomplete.

Further Afield - Other organizations

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.


For information on events at the North Museum go to North Museum.
For Butterfly sightings in Lancaster Co. for 2023 go to Lancaster Co. Butterflies 2023.
For Butterfly sightings in Berks County for 2023 go to Berks Co. - Butterflies 2023
For Butterfly walks in Berks County go to Berks County Nature - Butterfly Walks 2023.
For Nature events in Berks County go to Berks County Nature.

         
Black Swallowtail - Queen Anne's Lace    Male Zabulon Skipper               Spring Azure                        

  
                   European Hornets           Periodical Cicada Just Hatched Nymph
Photographs by Karl Gardner