Last updated: March 23, 2024

The Lancaster Butterfly and Entomological Club
2024 Our 28th year!

. .     Sleepy Orange; red phase 2022             Wheel Bug Nymphs 3 Sep 2023             Mourning Cloak 4 Mar 2024             
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 .

There will be no meeting in March.
The first meeting will be Monday, April 1, 2024.

  

Monday,  April 1, 2024   7:00 PM   
Held at the North Museum.
"Surprising Lepidoptera - Accounts from Field Trips and Class Material of an Amateur Entomologist" by Jess Bock. Her talk will include some of her photography, and a summary of her favorite scientific papers that were discussed in class, with nods to April fools day via examples of camouflage, mimicry, and other surprising butterfly behavior and adaptations. Jess was born and grew up in Medellin Colombia to two herpetologist parents so she spent a lot of time outside. She went to college in Bar Harbor, Maine at the College of the Atlantic. Traveling around Colombia to different ecosystems and spending six weeks in Costa Rica provided the material for her talk.
Photograph by Jess Bock.
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 2024.

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


Local butterfly sightings are at:
2024 Lancaster County butterfly sightings.

5 species seen in Lancaster County so far in 2024 (Mar 5 sp, Feb 1 sp).
Updated 3-23-24.

The first sighting date for each month is listed for the 89 species seen in
Lancaster County since 2009.
The last butterfly of the year (Orange Sulphur) was seen Nov 30, 2023.
Information on contributing to this data base is on the page.

The 58 butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2023.

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 2024
  

Monday,  April 1, 2024ç   
Held at the North Museum.
"Surprising Lepidoptera - Accounts from Field Trips and Class Material of an Amateur Entomologist" by Jess Bock. Her talk will include some of her photography, and a summary of her favorite scientific papers that were discussed in class, with nods to April fools day via examples of camouflage, mimicry, and other surprising butterfly behavior and adaptations. Jess was born and grew up in Medellin Colombia to two herpetologist parents so she spent a lot of time outside. She went to college in Bar Harbor, Maine at the College of the Atlantic. Traveling around Colombia to different ecosystems and spending ix weeks in Costa Rica provided the material for her talk.
Photograph by Jess Bock.
Non-members welcome. Free

  

Monday,  May 6, 2024   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
"Actual Title Soon" by member Gayle Steffy.
  

Monday, June 3, 2024   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
"Actual Title Soon" by member Fred Habbeger who will show some of his outstanding videos and photographs. Fred leads three Butterfly Count field trips each year to which the Club and others are invited.   Photograph by Fred Habegger.

Saturday, June 29, 2024   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.

  

Monday,  July 1 or 8?, 2024  7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
" ----- " by _____.
Non-members welcome. Free



Saturday, July 13, 2024   10:00 AM  FIELD TRIP   .
"The 25th 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,  August 5, 2024   7:00 PM 
Held at the North Museum
“ _____ ” by _____.
Non-members welcome. Free



Saturday, August 17, 2024   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 9, 2024   7:00 PM
Held at the North Museum.
" _____ " by_____.
Non-members welcome. Free

Monday,  October 7, 2024   7:00 PM   
Held at the North Museum. NOTE: program change!
" _____" By _____.
Non-members welcome. Free

*** Butterfly sightings by year ***

The -- butterfly species seen in Lancaster County in 2024
The 58 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 2024 go to Lancaster Co. Butterflies 2024.
For Butterfly sightings in Berks County for 2024 go to Berks Co. - Butterflies 2024
For Butterfly walks in Berks County go to Berks County Nature - Butterfly Walks 2024.
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