Rare Butterfly Sighting at Bernheim

The beautiful Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aesculapius) was seen again here at Bernheim Forest.  It is a rare butterfly that lays its eggs on river cane (Arundinaria gigantea), which are found along creeks. Historically large areas of river cane called canebrakes were found throughout the southeast. These canebrakes have declined in the past decades, and many species of animals depended on these canebrakes have also declined. Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper is listed as vulnerable in Kentucky, and has declined from habitat loss.