RECORDING

The recording form is available on the "Downloads" page, or by clicking here: Recording Form (in Adobe PDF format). An example of a completed form is also provided. Before beginning the transect, complete the top two lines of the form. The wind speed determination is described later in this manual. Make sure you satisfy the time, temperature, and sunshine requirements for this study (see When to Record). Recording sheets, a pen or pencil, a watch, compass, and thermometer are needed to record starting and ending information. In addition, glassine envelopes, close focusing binoculars, a camera, and insect repellent are useful.

The transect should be walked at an even pace and only the butterflies which come within 15 feet from of the recorder should be counted. Imagine yourself walking along in a box, 15 feet wide, 15 feet tall, and extending 15 feet ahead of you. (See Figure.) Only butterflies in this volume should be counted. As you walk, note any butterflies seen by 'scoring' in the appropriate square. Make sure that the correct total is clearly legible in the appropriate square as each section is completed. Do not record a butterfly which is flying more than 15 feet farther ahead, even if it is identifiable, as it may have moved away by the time you reach the spot. It is okay to follow a butterfly which leaves your recording volume if you need to have a better look at it for identifcation purposes. Begin counting again when you return where you left off.

Carry a net, so that you can examine some butterflies more closely, to be sure of identification. Retain one or more voucher specimens of any species of which you are uncertain so identifications can be verified. Attempt to collect freshly emerged individuals whenever practical. All vouchers should be deposited in The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Final disposition must be in a publicly accessible collection. This insures that future researchers will have access to the historical record. Voucher specimens are very important in providing confirmation of your observations. They are also useful to museum researchers and provide a snapshot of the diversity of the population at the time of collection. Collect sparingly, but try to obtain representative specimens from your site over time. Much of what we know about Ohio's butterflies is from the study of museum specimens. Specimens must be fairly fresh in order for them to be properly identified. Consult a butterfly field guide (Opler and Malikul, 1998) for details about properly collecting a specimen. Be especially aware that a museum specimen is of no value if the locality and the date information are not provided with the specimen. This should be in the form of a small tag or label. The specimens can be placed in glassine envelopes. You are not required to spread or mount the specimens. In some cases, only a spread specimen will give a positive identification (especially with the duskywing skippers and certain hairstreaks). If the monitors want to learn how to prepare museum specimens, contact members of The Ohio Lepidopterists or your local museum.

It may be necessary to stop or retrace your steps in order to capture an individual, in which case recording should resume where the initial stop was made. If you are in doubt about the identification of an individual, record it as a number (sp.5, spp.5, Erynnis spp.5 etc.), enter a short description in the field notes and take a voucher. If an individual butterfly is encountered more than once and you are certain that it is the same one seen previously, record it only once. Record butterflies you see and identify them at least to the family level if possible (e.g., hairstreak, swallowtail, etc.).