Catling, PM, Z Lucas & B Freedman. 2009. Plants and insects new to Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 123(2): 141-145.

Note: In late summer 2007 and 2008, two two-week field surveys for plants and invertebrates were conducted by Bill Freedman, Paul Catling, and Zoe Lucas. The project was organized by the Friends of the Green Horse Society with funding provided to the FGHS by ExxonMobil Canada, Ltd. The study found 17 insects that are new additions to the inventory of invertebrate species recorded on Sable Island.

Additions to the insect fauna are:

·         Coleoptera (4): ground beetle (Carabus maeander); aquatic beetle (Haliplus cribrarius); hister beetle (Spilodiscus arcuatus); and the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

·         Hemiptera (2): stink bug (Apateticus bracteatus); and Thread-legged Bug (Barce fraterna).

·         Homoptera (3): leafhopper (Muirodelphax arvensis); Bespeckled Leafhopper (Paraphlepsius irroratus); and Sharpnosed Leafhopper (Scaphytopius acutus).

·         Hymenoptera (1): sweat bee (Lasioglossum novascotiae).

·         Lepidoptera (5): Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus); White Eulithis (Eulithis explanata); Double Lobed Moth (Lateroligia ophiogramma); Lycophotia Moth (Lycophotia phyllophora); and Red-fronted Emerald (Nemoria rubrifrontaria).

·         Orthoptera (2): Slender Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus fasciatus); and Round-tipped Cone-headed Grasshopper (Neoconocephaus retusus).

The occurrence of the Cone-headed Grasshopper (as well as species of Catocala, noctuid moths commonly known as Underwings) on Sable Island provide an indication of the capability of storms to transport even large insects over substantial distances. The increasing numbers of Monarch Butterflies observed may be part of a trend toward the northward movement of migratory insects

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